The Refugee Crisis in Europe
Much of the chaos being seen in Southeast Europe, as Greece, Hungary, and other countries on the Western Balkans route grapple with massive inflows of asylum seekers is caused by confusion about who exactly is in need of protection, who should be protecting them, and a lack of on-the-ground capacity to respond.
In response to this escalating crisis, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker this week released an asylum response plan that outlines parameters for the distribution of 160,000 refugees throughout the 28 Member States. The relocation proposal and broader package of measures, which will be considered by interior ministers at a September 14 meeting, aim to address European solidarity as well as ensure a balance between protection for those in need and credible enforcement for those found not to be in need.
In a new commentary, MPI Europe Director Elizabeth Collett argues the plan represents a stopgap measure far more than an enduring solution. “Aside from deep political resistance to the distribution of Europe’s responsibilities via relocation, two challenges remain. First, whilst arrival numbers increase daily, the details of how the mechanism will function in practice have yet to be worked out,” Collett writes. “Second, many of those arriving have strong views about where they wish to be. It is unlikely that individuals willing to make the dangerous journey to reach Germany will balk at a short trip within the Schengen area, even if it means losing legal status.”
The commentary explores several critical realities that must be addressed, including immediate local needs in countries such as Greece that are struggling under the weight of the arrivals, a focus on the emergency refugee situation beyond the borders of the European Union, and establishment of stronger early-warning mechanisms to anticipate future crises.
In an accompanying video, MPI President Emeritus and MPI Europe President Demetrios Papademetriou discusses the near- and long-term challenges facing the European Union and the international community as they struggle to respond, as well as the deeper solutions policymakers inevitably will have to consider and implement.
The Refugee Crisis in Europe: Q&A with Demetrios Papademetriou from Migration Policy Institute on Vimeo.
KJ