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Quite a symbolic incident. It reminds of the main threat to Europe - and it's not the "cultural change" that these "hordes of barbarians" are supposedly going to bring upon Europe (even by the worst estimates, their contribution to the European population would hardly exceed 1-2%). The main threat is actually to one of the core principles of the European Union: free movement.
Reactions to the migration crisis have been different. Once again Europe has been found unprepared and divided on a crucial issue. There have been warnings by top European politicians that the Schengen space is under threat - which means that free movement across Europe could be canceled. And that is one of the foundations of the union. Angela Merkel, the leader of the country which has shown perhaps the most generosity and readiness to help, herself has warned that if Europe does not manage to achieve a fair distribution of the refugees across the continent, the very existence of the free-movement zone is going to be threatened. And of course no one wants this to happen.
It is usually the Eurosceptic parties who at a national level would talk about the dismantling of the Schengen zone (spanning 26 countries, including 22 of EU's 28 members). But now, when Italy, Greece and Hungary are flooded with asylum seekers and are letting most of the refugees pass through their territory transit on their way to the wealthier countries in the north, several EU countries have attempted to restore border control, and tighten access - including through building walls.
This is putting one of the pillars of the EU in question, the free movement of workers. Because these migrants are not coming to Greece, Italy or Hungary. They are going to the core of Europe. And they are prepared to work. Often, for a fraction of the local medium salary (the latter having triggered a number of conspiracy theories that Germany is so generously hospitable exactly because it's building its next generation of cheap workforce). The thing is, the first-line countries have no other choice (or interest) but to let them pass. And this is threatening to overwhelm the countries that happen to be a final destination. So we shoulnd't rule out an urgent overhauling of the rules for free movement, as has indeed happened in the past as well.
The European Commission is hoping to have a comprehensive reform of these rules in the next couple of months, starting with the now dysfunctional Dublin Regulation from 2003, which says that the EU country where a migrant enters first, has the entire responsibility for that migrant, including the processing of their asylum application. The EC is now pleading for adding a permanent mechanism for fair distribution of the refugees, and that is the most urgent need right now.
Granted, threatening to leave Schengen is usually a very useful way of blackmail for political gains, used by both populists and threatened moderates alike. The fact is though, the Schengen system has brought lots of economic benefits to Europe, and in normal circumstances, no country would ever think of scrapping it.
The real decision here should be on a common, shared policy regarding asylum seekers. That policy should be simple and clearly formulated. Clearly defined corridors and transit hubs should be established, and a simple and quick procedure for granting refugee status, to bring the current chaos under control. And of course: quotas distributed and agreed upon between the member states. If the EU fails to achieve this, the governments would remain under the ever increasing political pressure of their populist parties, to the detriment of the entire union. And free movement, this core principle, is going to sink into oblivion. And yet one more major step closer to the ultimate dismantlement of the EU would be made.
Ps. By the way, another conspiracy theory (pushed by the pro-Kremlin talking-heads) is that the US is at the bottom of this entire crisis, having worked (and continuously working) for the disruption of Syria through directly or indirectly supporting anti-government elements (both extremist and moderate), thus triggering what has become a modern version of the Migration Age, and sending yet another economic shockwave throughout one of its great potential rivals, Europe. These geopolitical considerations notwithstanding, the more legitimate question remains, why America has not yet joined Europe's efforts to cope with the situation, if it really cares about their well-being so much.
Quite a symbolic incident. It reminds of the main threat to Europe - and it's not the "cultural change" that these "hordes of barbarians" are supposedly going to bring upon Europe (even by the worst estimates, their contribution to the European population would hardly exceed 1-2%). The main threat is actually to one of the core principles of the European Union: free movement.
Reactions to the migration crisis have been different. Once again Europe has been found unprepared and divided on a crucial issue. There have been warnings by top European politicians that the Schengen space is under threat - which means that free movement across Europe could be canceled. And that is one of the foundations of the union. Angela Merkel, the leader of the country which has shown perhaps the most generosity and readiness to help, herself has warned that if Europe does not manage to achieve a fair distribution of the refugees across the continent, the very existence of the free-movement zone is going to be threatened. And of course no one wants this to happen.
It is usually the Eurosceptic parties who at a national level would talk about the dismantling of the Schengen zone (spanning 26 countries, including 22 of EU's 28 members). But now, when Italy, Greece and Hungary are flooded with asylum seekers and are letting most of the refugees pass through their territory transit on their way to the wealthier countries in the north, several EU countries have attempted to restore border control, and tighten access - including through building walls.
This is putting one of the pillars of the EU in question, the free movement of workers. Because these migrants are not coming to Greece, Italy or Hungary. They are going to the core of Europe. And they are prepared to work. Often, for a fraction of the local medium salary (the latter having triggered a number of conspiracy theories that Germany is so generously hospitable exactly because it's building its next generation of cheap workforce). The thing is, the first-line countries have no other choice (or interest) but to let them pass. And this is threatening to overwhelm the countries that happen to be a final destination. So we shoulnd't rule out an urgent overhauling of the rules for free movement, as has indeed happened in the past as well.
The European Commission is hoping to have a comprehensive reform of these rules in the next couple of months, starting with the now dysfunctional Dublin Regulation from 2003, which says that the EU country where a migrant enters first, has the entire responsibility for that migrant, including the processing of their asylum application. The EC is now pleading for adding a permanent mechanism for fair distribution of the refugees, and that is the most urgent need right now.
Granted, threatening to leave Schengen is usually a very useful way of blackmail for political gains, used by both populists and threatened moderates alike. The fact is though, the Schengen system has brought lots of economic benefits to Europe, and in normal circumstances, no country would ever think of scrapping it.
The real decision here should be on a common, shared policy regarding asylum seekers. That policy should be simple and clearly formulated. Clearly defined corridors and transit hubs should be established, and a simple and quick procedure for granting refugee status, to bring the current chaos under control. And of course: quotas distributed and agreed upon between the member states. If the EU fails to achieve this, the governments would remain under the ever increasing political pressure of their populist parties, to the detriment of the entire union. And free movement, this core principle, is going to sink into oblivion. And yet one more major step closer to the ultimate dismantlement of the EU would be made.
Ps. By the way, another conspiracy theory (pushed by the pro-Kremlin talking-heads) is that the US is at the bottom of this entire crisis, having worked (and continuously working) for the disruption of Syria through directly or indirectly supporting anti-government elements (both extremist and moderate), thus triggering what has become a modern version of the Migration Age, and sending yet another economic shockwave throughout one of its great potential rivals, Europe. These geopolitical considerations notwithstanding, the more legitimate question remains, why America has not yet joined Europe's efforts to cope with the situation, if it really cares about their well-being so much.
(no subject)
Date: 10/9/15 17:54 (UTC)Or so a Russian conspiracy website gleefully informed me today.
(no subject)
Date: 10/9/15 17:55 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 11/9/15 05:33 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 11/9/15 05:34 (UTC)