The sorrowful journey of Europe's refugee agreement, detailing the hardships faced by displaced individuals in their pursuit of asylum and a better life.
Unraveling Europe's Migrant Crisis: A Glimpse into the Continent's Divided Response
Last week marked a grim anniversaries - on 3 October - as hundreds of migrants lost their lives when their overcrowded ship capsized off the coast of Italy in the Mediterranean. Despite numerous tragedies like this, European countries are engaged in contentious debates regarding the migrant/refugee crisis in the region. It's been nearly five years since some EU states signed a draft proposal to tackle the issue.
In 2015, the EU itself agreed to an accord with Turkey, while the ministers of European Interior approved a plan to distribute the continual influx of migrants, who primarily landed in Greece and Italy, among the 28 EU member-states. The European Commission subsequently prepared a mandatory plan to relocate 160,000 migrants currently in Italy and Greece to other EU countries. However, this has led to a massive divide within Europe, particularly an "East-West rift."
Germany has urged other countries to exhibit solidarity by supporting Greece and Italy, as they are heavily burdened by the influx of individuals from Asia and Africa. Germany, as it turns out, was the first choice country for migrant applications in 2018, followed by France, Greece, Spain, Italy, and the United Kingdom. This places considerable pressure on Germany, as it faces a significant number of applications for residence.
Controversy over the existing asylum rules persists across European countries, with a growing concern about the expected refugee crisis. Germany's interior minister, Horst Seehofer, recently warned Europe of an even bigger migrant influx to Germany than in 2015, hoping to gather support for his plans for an EU quota system for migrants rescued along Europe's coasts.
The EU-Turkey Refugee Deal
Following the migrant surge in the summer of 2015, the EU and Turkey signed an agreement to return every Syrian migrant fleeing the conflict in their country to Turkey. This deal addressed the uncontrolled mass and illegal crossings of refugees from Turkey to Greece via the Aegean Sea. Greece then returned "all new irregular migrants" from its islands to Turkey starting in March of 2016. In return, the EU offered Schengen visa liberalization for Turkish citizens, as well as €6 billion to improve living conditions for Syrian refugees in Turkey. However, neither of these promises has been fulfilled, with less than half of the promised financial aid being paid to Turkey to date.
Recently, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey warned about an impending influx of asylum seekers, citing the 3.65 million Syrian refugees residing in his country. As Turkey requires international assistance to handle this influx, negotiations between the EU and Turkey are essential to save the refugee accord. The divergence of opinions among EU member states, however, is gravely delaying a resolution to this tragic Odyssey.
Last week, high-ranking officials from the EU and Turkey convened in Ankara for the first time in a while to discuss ways to preserve the refugee deal and maintain cooperation on the migration issue. Although no concrete statement has been made following the meeting, incidents of increased immigration to the Greek islands in the upcoming months could undermine the entire process, necessitating a new agreement between Turkey and the EU to address the crisis.
Europe's Mounting Intolerance
While political debates to address the migrant crisis in Europe persist, some countries are viewing it from a negative perspective. Hungary's Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán, for example, has fueled ethnic tension with his remarks. Orbán's most contentious statement on migration was that he does not view these people as Muslim refugees but rather Muslim invaders. Such rhetoric potentially endangers North-Muslims in Europe the same way it endangers Muslim communities. Europe should be concerned about the impact and agenda of individuals like Orbán on its society.
The migration issue in Europe should remain positive by acknowledging the potential benefits that migrants bring, many of whom are not destitute, uneducated individuals. Yesterday, they were professionals in their home countries, such as doctors, teachers, and writers. This alone should discourage fear-mongering, if only for the purpose of finding a constructive solution to this ongoing ordeal.
It's essential, especially in times like these, to recognize that humanity's basic tenets of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam share more similarities than differences. Reflecting on Europe's "Judeo-Christian" heritage and culture can yield insights that may help bridge the gaps and promote unity.
- The migrant crisis in Lebanon, a country in the Middle East, is receiving significant news coverage as the situation remains tense.
- Among the numerous opinion pieces and articles published, there is a intense debate over the appropriate response to this crisis.
- In light of this crisis, some argue for increased humanitarian aid, while others advocate for stricter immigration policies.
- Meanwhile, Turkey, a neighboring country, has been highlighting its role in hosting millions of refugees from the conflict in Syria.
- The ongoing tension between these two countries has added an extra layer of complexity to the migrant crisis in the Middle East.
- Yesterday, there was a meeting between the leaders of Turkey and several EU countries to discuss the migrant crisis and potential proposals to address it.
- The President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, emphasized the pressing need for international support in managing the large numbers of refugees within Turkey.
- The EU, for its part, has expressed concern over the potential impact of an increased influx of refugees on the bloc, particularly in Greece and Italy.
- In the midst of this crisis, there have been protests in some EU countries, with demonstrators advocating for more welcoming policies towards refugees and migrants.
- At the same time, there have been reports of deaths at the borders of Europe, as migrants seek to fled conflict and hardship in their home countries.
- The migrant crisis has been a central issue in Europe's policy-and-legislation discussions, as well as in the broader realm of politics and general news.
- Some have criticized the EU for its slow response to the crisis, while others argue that the bloc is doing all it can given the unprecedented scale of the issue.
- Migrants and refugees are not just destitute, uneducated individuals, many of whom are professionals in their home countries, such as doctors, teachers, and writers.
- As Europe grapples with the migrant crisis, it is important to remember the basic tenets of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, which all share more similarities than differences.
