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Europe’s Continuing Shame Europe’s Continuing Shame
(about 11 hours later)
Britain’s decision to leave the European Union and the horrific attack in Nice, France, have temporarily obscured what remains the biggest threat to European stability: a failure to develop a coherent, humane plan to deal with the steady, seemingly inexorable flow of desperate people to the Continent. The threat is not only not going away, but it seems to be getting worse. First came Britain’s decision to leave the European Union. Then the horrific attack in Nice, France, which killed 84 people. Then, on Friday, a shooting near a shopping mall in Munich, which the police are treating as a possible terrorist attack.
Through July 17, more than 240,000 migrants and refugees crossed the Mediterranean, roughly equal to last year’s crossings during the same time period. Nearly 3,000 died in the attempt, 60 percent higher than last year’s grim toll. These events alone would be cause for a continental nervous breakdown. But still unresolved is an even bigger threat to European stability: a failure to develop a coherent, humane plan to deal with the inexorable flow of desperate people fleeing violence and persecution in the Middle East and Africa and seeking a new home in Europe.
This is a humanitarian tragedy, arising partly from Europe’s failure to put enough resources into rescuing people whose boats founder at sea, and partly from its failure to provide legal channels for desperate people intent on reaching Europe, leaving them at the mercy of smugglers. To protest what it called “shameful deterrence policies,” Doctors Without Borders announced last month that it would no longer accept funds from the E.U. and its member states. Through July 17, more than 240,000 migrants and refugees have crossed the Mediterranean this year, roughly equal to last year’s crossings during the same period. Nearly 3,000 died in the attempt, 60 percent higher than last year’s grim toll.
The group singled out for special condemnation the deal with the bloc reached in March with Turkey, in which the E.U. agreed to provide more than $6 billion to Turkey in return for help in stopping the flow of migrants to Europe and for taking back those who successfully crossed the Aegean to Greece. The group argued that this gave priority to the sanctity of borders at the expense of humanitarian needs. It argued further that the deal could set a dangerous precedent, a not unreasonable fear given the European Union’s interest in striking similar deals with other nations in the Middle East and Africa. This is a humanitarian tragedy, arising partly from Europe’s failure to put enough resources into rescue efforts and partly from its failure to develop legal channels for desperate people intent on reaching Europe. This has left them at the mercy of smugglers. To protest what it called “shameful deterrence policies,” Doctors Without Borders announced last month that it would no longer accept funds from the E.U. and its member states.
Another part of the problem is Europe’s Dublin Regulation, which stipulates that asylum seekers file applications in the country of first arrival. That has put an unfair burden on Italy and Greece; a plan to ease that burden by distributing some of those refugees to other nations has since foundered. New burden-sharing proposals are in the works but face strenuous opposition. The group singled out for special condemnation the deal the E.U. reached in March with Turkey, in which the union agreed to provide more than $6 billion to Turkey in return for Turkey’s help in stopping the flow of migrants to Europe and for taking back those who successfully crossed the Aegean to Greece. The group argued that this gave priority to the sanctity of borders at the expense of humanitarian needs and sets a dangerous precedent.
Meanwhile, the refugee issue continues to stoke fears and xenophobic politics. If Europe fails to face this problem squarely and humanely, more migrants will die and a union that has kept the peace in Europe for decades could well unravel. Statistically, the Turkey deal appears to have paid off; the number of migrants risking the perilous voyage from Turkey to Greece has plummeted, according to the United Nations. But closing the Greek route has shifted attention to the longer, more dangerous route from Libya to Italy. Drowning deaths are inevitable, despite the best efforts of the Italian Coast Guard and Navy to answer distress calls, as smugglers in Libya send out more and more migrants on unseaworthy vessels.
Another part of the problem is Europe’s Dublin Regulation, which stipulates that asylum seekers file applications in the country of first arrival. That has put an unfair burden on Italy and Greece; a plan to ease that burden by distributing some refugees to other nations has foundered. New burden-sharing proposals are in the works, but they face strenuous opposition. A proposal floated on July 10 to tempt countries to take in refugees by offering 10,000 euros per person would require the approval of European governments and the European Parliament.
Meanwhile, the refugee issue continues to stoke fears and xenophobic politics. If Europe fails to face this problem squarely and humanely, more migrants will die, and a union that has kept the peace in Europe for decades could well unravel.