Daily Management Review

Wave of Migrants Hits European Oneness


06/23/2015


The problem of illegal migrants, sweeping over Europe, has become a real bone of contention to the Old World. Let’s assume how and when European politicians are going to solve it.



David Kadlubowski / Corbis
David Kadlubowski / Corbis
European countries often come to a consensus even on the most controversial issues. But immigration quotas is an exception. Moreover, this theme is almost the most painful. The Old World is suffering from the dominance of refugees and migrants, mostly from Africa. The southern countries, particularly Italy and Greece affected the most.

The European Commission has found a solution and offered to the rest to host about 40 thousand of refugees within two years. Only Germany, Italy, Austria and Sweden have supported this idea, and the offer caused a real anger in Eastern Europe altogether.

As for Italy, it can be understood: it suffers stronger than the other, and the Prime Minister Matteo Renzi even resorted to threats. If the Commission's proposal does not receive the approval, then Rome will launch the so-called plan B. The details are still unknown, but according to media reports, Italy will ban the landing of migrants in the territory, and those, who are still able to get Italian coast, will be given Schengen visas and sent to travel around Europe. As for the already taken decisions, so far it is only about strengthening the protection of maritime borders.

Federica Mogherini, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Commission, said:

- We decided to start a naval operation to combat the transport of migrants in the Mediterranean. I want to read a list of countries that have already joined the operation to you. This is Italy, UK, Germany, Slovenia, Greece, France, Luxembourg, Spain, Belgium, Finland, Hungary, the Netherlands and Sweden.

By the way, some countries, such as Austria and France, generally denied access to the refugees. This is where the European Commission has intervened, offering Italy and Greece sharing migrants with others on the basis of quotas. Their sizes depend on four criteria: population, GDP, unemployment and the number of refugees harbored by the country from 2010 to 2014.

The first two factors play a major role, which means that Germany and France both should complacently host about 40% of refugees, and Spain - about 10%. In Eastern Europe, mass protests erupted on the issue, saying that one cannot relocate the whole Africa to Europe. The Commission's proposal will be discussed at the summit on 25-26 June in details. Stormy debates are guaranteed, and it can greatly impair relations in the united Europe. However, according to media reports, the question may be postponed to a postural period, for example, in September. By the time, the Commission should get support of more than half of the participants.