Underlying Conditions
War, drought, and conflict in the early to mid 2010s created millions of internationally displaced peoples (IDP) in the Middle East and Africa. Many of which risked their lives in search of asylum in Europe. Hundreds of refugee boats sank and went missing in the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea while attempting to reach the southeastern shores of Europe. Hundreds of thousands also pursued other routes and found temporary settlement in Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, and Libya.
Responsibility to Protect (R2P), the international political norm to prevent humanitarian crisis committed the European Union (EU) to act in order to ensure the human security of as many refugees as possible, and provide them with temporary and permanent housing solutions within all member states of the union.
Conflict Summary
In the past decade, the European Union has faced continuous waves of migration from conflict regions and currently faces a contestation of Euroscepticism and failing refugee societal integration. The logistical obstacles of mass migration into Europe from around the world did prove institutionally, the EU was not prepared for the political and economic bearing of this magnitude. Even in the efforts the EU has made to resolve issues, nationalism and populism are still prominent within the citizen population of member states.
The issue in contention for the citizen population of the EU is security, both physical and constructed in national identity. The more refugees that are accepted by the EU, the more crime and terrorism occurs within the saturation of foreign culture within communities, due to the integration procedural shortcomings. Individual perceptions of identity and foreigners shape the ways in which their communities, state, and the EU assimilate refugees. The states, however, have the power to shape the rhetoric in the favor of successful integration, or complete negligence of migrants.
The EU later made several attempts to disperse refugees throughout Europe under a quota scheme which was somewhat effective but did not solve the problem of effective integration. In addition, over a million refugees became trapped in Turkey while waiting to find transport to Europe. New limitations and border control backed up refugee migration in Turkey which left them with more refugees than they could handle and hurt their relationship with the EU. The number of displaced peoples awaiting transportation is the highest in Turkey, but Greece, Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, Macedonia, Bulgaria, and Serbia also face a large influx of displaced people in the height of the conflict. This directly correlates with the protesting and frustrations expressed by both local populations and migrants.
Reflections
“All States have a right to control their borders and manage irregular movements, but at the same time should refrain from the use of excessive or disproportionate force and maintain systems for handling asylum requests in an orderly manner.” ”
- UNHCR
“Negative developments in the field of asylum and immigration are not addressed in order to prevent a turnaround in public opinion. At the same time, the ruling German political parties have tried to disguise the complete failure of their policies on asylum and immigration of recent years. An open discussion is prevented in this way.” ”
- Alternative for Germany (AfD) political party
“Britain is an open and tolerant country. We will always want immigration, especially high-skilled immigration, we will always want immigration from Europe, and we will always welcome individual migrants as friends. But the message from the public before and during the referendum campaign was clear: Brexit must mean control of the number of people who come to Britain from Europe. And that is what we will deliver.” ”-British Prime Minister Theresa May
“There is one red line that we should not cross. It is a commitment to human rights, the respect of the dignity of the human being. There should be no compromises.” ”- German Chancellor Angela Merkel
Critical Thinking Questions
- What benefits does the European Union provide by using mandatory quota schemes for the member states?
- Should the European Union be allowed to place refugees wherever they want, or should refugees get to choose? What problems could each option pose?
- Is the risk of crime and terrorism worth humanitarian aid and providing refugees with shelter?
- In what ways can governments better integrate migrants into their society?
- Should governments be allowed to demand payments from migrants in return for helping them? Why or why not?
- What actions can everyday citizens take to make migrants feel more welcome in their country?
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