Faced with the massive arrival of migrants and refugees, the Union must implement a coherent and flexible reception and asylum policy, and strengthen development cooperation as well as peace initiatives in conflict-stricken countries.
It is understandable that in times of emergency, emotions can take over. But allowing ourselves to be dominated by fear can be even more dangerous than the people who threaten our way of life and freedom.
Many have succumbed to the temptation to conflate the fight against terrorism, border control, illegal immigration, and the integration of ethnic and religious minorities.
To illustrate the confusion in the debate, the opposition leader, Nicolas Sarkozy, called for the suspension of the Schengen agreements, even when the terrorists were French citizens!
The time has come to distinguish the issues and seek solutions, starting with the fight against terrorism. To stop the jihadists, better coordination between European countries is needed.
Borders, especially those of the Mediterranean, are turning into a release valve for the despair of millions of people fleeing conflicts and poverty. This flow will not stop, and to manage it, much more than migrant rescue missions is needed.
The time has come to take the initiative and once and for all equip the European Union with a military force capable of preventing conflicts and contributing to their resolution. European foreign policy must be based on three pillars: diplomacy, defense, and a collaborative and development policy aimed at neighboring countries, equipped with sufficient resources.
According to the European agency Frontex, in 2014, 270,000 people attempted to enter the European Union illegally. Considering what has happened with the three million Syrian refugees, it’s easy to imagine what might occur if Ukraine’s crisis deepens.
For economic and demographic reasons, but also to defend its principles and values, Europe needs a complete overhaul of its migration policies.
This difficult task requires more Europe, not less. It must be admitted to the public that our era’s problems cannot be solved at the national level and that European integration is an instrument of peace, security, and prosperity, while a return to sovereignty is the common platform of xenophobes.
