Year 2015 marked the beginning of European Refugee crisis or the migrant crisis, when a rising number of displaced people and vagrants made the excursion to the European Union (EU) to look for a safe haven by traversing the Mediterranean Sea. According to UN high commissioner for Refugees, there are three major nationalities landing in the Mediterranean, the Syrians, which constitute 49%, Afghans that are 21% and lastly the Iraqis comprising 8%. About 58% of the migrants were men, 17% women, and 25% constituted children. According to reports, about 1200 individuals have lost their lives crossing the Mediterranean to make it into Europe.
However, many analysts say Europe is not capable to take in all refugees escaping the war-torn territories of Syria and Iraq. They further state that the refugee crisis is putting the whole European Union structure under great jeopardy.
The French-German duo is thought to be the backbone of the EU. The duo combined run the rowdy group of 28 countries. Nevertheless, as of late, the couple has been at a crossroads. Germany leads the EU pack on a great many issues starting from the Euro to the recent refugees crises. However, the pressing questions keeps appearing, where is France in all this? Why France has not made attempt to make its voice heard, even as the refuge crisis is transforming into a bad dream and undermines European Union’ framework.
One of the reasons presented by French general manager, Pascale Joannin at Robert Schuman Foundation is the immense pressure projected on France by its domestic politics. As Europe has been under euro crisis since last few years, there exists unshakably high unemployment and with that a political party gaining popularity on anti-immigrants policy. In such circumstances, France is in no state of mind to present a red carpet show for the refugees that are trying to pave their way into Europe.
Nevertheless, surprisingly, German Chancellor Angela Merkel is of opposite perspective. She believes that independent measures and policies taken by the European Union to tackle the refugee crisis are counterproductive, as EU is one big body so there should be consensus to formulate one single policy for the migrant crisis.
Tactics such as fringe log jams and shutting down the refugee course all along the Europe have recently implied that individuals are currently entering and settling in Greece, overpowering the nation’s assets which is already in debts.
Since the crisis started, Merkel has been collaborating with turkey in this regard. Merkel already has faced and still is facing criticism for her policy to open Germany’s door for the refugees overlooking the receding economy due to euro zone crisis. To Merkel, one-sided arrangements would not help EU. Europe needs to work intimately with Turkey to stop the stream of transients.
The local German population however is not satisfied with Merkel’s decision. The existing social order can be altered greatly as these immigrants are not accustomed to the customs and norms of a liberal society. The availability of cheap liquor and such luxuries can lead to identity crisis with many added increase in social evils. Presently those evacuees, are inciting a political reaction that mixes uneasy German recollections.
This specific atmosphere is imperiling the Schengen Agreement. Situation in European Union can get as complicated as Pakistan is facing in the wake of mismanagement at Durand line. Today Pakistani society is impregnated with social evils, which are not a part of Pakistani culture but were spilled out by the mass migration of afghan population.
Europe therefore needs to unanimously decide their migrants policy before it breaks the very framework of European Union, on which it was built.
