The disheartening journey of displaced individuals in Europe's migration pact

In the last week, we commemorated a somber anniversary - October 3rd - marking the tragic drowning of over 300 migrants when their crammed ship overturned near Italy's coast. Yet, the European Union (EU) still grapples with finding an effective solution to address the ongoing migrant and refugee crisis in the Mediterranean region.

Over four long years, some EU nations have been hesitant to endorse a draft agreement. In contrast, the EU itself inked a pact with Turkey back in 2015. European Ministers adopted a plan in the same year to divide the ongoing influx of migrants, primarily arriving in Greece and Italy. This plan aimed for all 28 EU member-states to share the burden of managing this crisis.

The European Commission proposed a mandatory scheme to relocate approximately 160,000 migrants currently stationed in Italy and Greece to other EU countries. However, this idea has caused a significant divide within the European continent, ultimately creating a rift. Germany has urged fellow countries to show compassion by aiding Greece and Italy, as they are the countries on the front lines dealing with the overwhelming influx of migrants from Asia and Africa.

Germany’s top choice country for migrant applications in 2018 was revealed to be itself, followed by France, Greece, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Given the high number of migrant applications for residence in Germany, it's clear that the existing asylum rules have generated strong opinions in various European countries.

Highlighting the possible refugee surge in Germany, Horst Seehofer, the German interior minister, alerted other European nations last week about a potential increase in migrants compared to 2015. He hopes to garner support for his plan to implement an EU quota system for those rescued from European coastlines.

The EU-Turkey Refugee Agreement was signed in 2016, aimed at preventing the uncontrolled flow of refugees from Turkey to Greece via the Aegean Sea. In a nutshell, Greece would return ‘irregular migrants’ from its islands to Turkey, with the EU pledging Schengen visa liberalization for Turkish citizens and a €6 billion investment to improve living conditions for Syrian refugees residing in Turkey. Although some funds have been distributed, neither pledge has been fulfilled.

Recently, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey has warned of a new wave of asylum seekers, claiming that Turkey houses around 3,650,000 Syrian refugees. He demands international support to manage this massive influx, but the ongoing disagreements among EU member states have caused delays in addressing this migrant crisis.

A high-level meeting between the EU and Turkey was held last week for the first time in a while to preserve the refugee pact and continue productive cooperation on migration-related issues. No explicit statement has been released yet, but if there's a surge in migration to the Greek islands in the upcoming months, it could jeopardize the entire process, necessitating a new agreement between Turkey and the EU to resolve the crisis.

Europe has been facing internal backlash against "multiculturalism," causing disputes across the continent. Politicians such as Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán have ignited ethnic tensions through their statements. Orbán made headlines for his controversial remark about migration: “We don’t see these people as Muslim refugees. We see them as Muslim invaders.” Such rhetoric should concern not only Muslims but also non-Muslims in Europe. Hate speech like this often arises from ignorance, but malicious racism cannot be ignored. The basic principles of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam share more similarities than differences, a fact that should be considered when discussing Europe’s supposed "Judeo-Christian" heritage and culture.

It's important to see the contributions migrants bring to Europe instead of focusing on their differences. Many of these immigrants were professionals like doctors, teachers, and writers in their home countries before seeking asylum, which should challenge any fearmongering and help find a mutually beneficial solution to this difficult situation.

Difficult situations require open discussions, compassion, and a willingness to understand the unique experiences of each individual involved. As we continue to grapple with the global refugee crisis, it's essential to stand united in our efforts to provide safety, dignity, and hope to those seeking a better life.

The ongoing migrant and refugee crisis in the Mediterranean region has persisted for over four years, with some EU nations reluctant to endorse a draft agreement.
The European Union (EU) itself inked a pact with Turkey back in 2015, adopting a plan to divide the influx of migrants in the same year.
The European Commission proposed a mandatory scheme to relocate about 160,000 migrants from Italy and Greece to other EU countries, causing a significant divide within the continent.
Germany, with a high number of migrant applications in 2018, urged fellow countries to show compassion towards Greece and Italy, which are dealing with an overwhelming influx of migrants from Asia and Africa.
The existing asylum rules in Europe have generated strong opinions in various European countries.
Horst Seehofer, the German interior minister, recently alerted other European nations about a potential increase in migrants compared to 2015, hoping to gain support for an EU quota system for those rescued from European coastlines.
The EU-Turkey Refugee Agreement of 2016 aimed to prevent the uncontrolled flow of refugees from Turkey to Greece via the Aegean Sea, but neither pledge under the agreement has been fulfilled.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey has warned of a new wave of asylum seekers and demands international support to manage the massive influx of Syrian refugees.
A high-level meeting between the EU and Turkey was held recently to preserve the refugee pact and continue productive cooperation on migration-related issues.
The ongoing disagreements among EU member states have caused delays in addressing the migrant crisis, and a surge in migration to the Greek islands in the upcoming months could jeopardize the entire process.
Europe has faced internal backlash against multiculturalism, causing disputes across the continent, with politicians such as Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán igniting ethnic tensions through their statements.
Migrants have been contributing positively to Europe by holding professions like doctors, teachers, and writers in their home countries before seeking asylum, a fact that should challenge any fearmongering.
As we continue to grapple with the global refugee crisis, it's essential to stand united in our efforts to provide safety, dignity, and hope to those seeking a better life.