German chancellor Angela Merkel is leading European efforts to find an equitable solution for the refugee crisis on the continent. Last week, Mrs Merkel responded to Austria’s recent decision to cap the number of refugees entering the country and tighten border controls. She argued that cooperation is needed in Europe, not disunity, and that a joint European solution, one that didn’t involved closing borders and curtailing asylum requests, is the best path out of the crisis.
She is correct. Shutting Europe’s borders would do little to stop the flow of refugees and significantly harm the idea of openness at the heart of the European Union’s raison d’être. Along with the Greek debt crisis, the refugee debate represents one of the most profound challenges to European cohesion in the 21st century.
That Mrs Merkel’s comments were delivered in a joint press conference with Turkish prime minister Ahmet Davutoglu is fitting. Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan have a crucial role in the European refugee debate as the primary transit points into Europe. Turkey is especially important, not just because of its geographic position on Europe’s doorstep and the ability of its aviation sector to bring people from across the globe to Istanbul, but because Ankara has long sought a deeper partnership with the EU as a prospective member. At this time of heightened disunity, Turkish membership of the EU is best left for another time, but genuine cooperation between Ankara and Brussels is a critical ingredient for a sensible solution to the refugee crisis.
While Mrs Merkel is leading the fight to maintain unity at home, she is also correct to identify that the source of the refugee problem is in Syria. In other words, any lasting solution to this crisis will necessarily be forged in Syria with the cessation of civil war and bloodshed. Other international steps will need to be taken to raise the economic prosperity of countries in Africa and central Asia that have been bleeding economic migrants to Europe.
As a political and social concept, the EU is one of the greatest experiments of the 20th century that should be able to withstand the current stress of the refugee crisis. But it will only do so if its member countries bear in mind the ideal of unity at the heart of the union. Mrs Merkel understands this very well and more countries would be well served to follow her lead.
