‘Tackling the migration and refugee crisis is a common obligation which requires a comprehensive strategy and a determined effort over time in a spirit of solidarity and responsibility.” This opening sentence from the European Council summit on October 15-16 is an important statement of the overall approach EU leaders are adopting to this crisis. Its latest manifestation from the mini-summit of Balkan and EU leaders in Brussels on Sunday shows a definite shift towards strengthening border controls and co-operative actions on security, alongside a continuing willingness to receive the hundreds of thousands who seek refuge in Europe.
This is a huge humanitarian and political challenge and its acceleration over the summer months found the EU underestimating its impact and ill-prepared to tackle its consequences. Since then intensive efforts have been made to catch up with the many layers of the crisis. Sunday’s meeting will be succeeded by another in Malta next month, bringing together most of the European, Middle Eastern and African states involved.
It is too soon for a comprehensive judgment on this strategy, as it is still being put in place. The surge of Syrian refugees coming through Turkey and Greece to Balkan states heading for northern Europe shows little sign of flagging. They are driven by desperation over the fighting and a determination to make the journey before borders close and winter stops their passage. Germany's leading role in receiving them displays admirable solidarity and leadership from ordinary citizens and Chancellor Merkel, but is now reaching limits of capacity and tolerance. Decisions at national and EU levels to facilitate the return of migrants who cannot prove refugee status to countries of origin, to share out their reception equitably, to strengthen border controls and provide much more help to Turkey, Greece and other frontline and transit states seek to balance responsibility with solidarity.
But there can be no compromise with fundamental rights to asylum and international obligations to provide them. That should be the touchstone for assessing the merits and balance of the EU's overall response. Sunday's mini-summit made some progress in getting more co-operation between Slovenia, Croatia and Serbia and reassuring them borders will not close in Austria and Germany. Hungary's intransigence against any common obligation continues and has surely become unacceptable. So too has the practice of waving through refugees in Greece and other states, according to the summit statement. It undertakes to help them organise reception and registration centres and provide extra policing and humanitarian personnel.
These are welcome steps. But it remains a work in progress which must be kept under review at official and popular levels in coming months.