Europe’s Refugee Crisis

What has been happening?  In 2015 There has been a massive increase in the number of refugees and migrants escaping hardship and traveling to Europe.  Refugees hope that by arriving in Italy and Greece they will be able to move to a new life in Germany or Northern Europe

 Criminal gangs have been charging thousands of Euros to help them cross the Mediterranean

 The crossings are mostly on unsuitable boats and the criminal gangs don’t seem to care whether they live or die  Thousands have died – and Europe’s leaders seem unsure how to deal with this crisis

Where are they from? The majority of migrants have been fleeing from Syria – which has been in a state of civil war for 4 years. However some are fleeing poverty and looking for a better life rather than escaping persecution

Where do refugees go?

The Key Issues  What questions are European leaders considering? Prevention vs Regulation vs Tackling the Source? Measures for Regulation: ○ How to cope with the numbers? ○ Refugees vs Economic migrants: Are some more deserving than others? Tackling the Source: ○ Why are refugees coming? War in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan? Economic migrants? ○ Can we help reduce the 'push factors' which cause migration? Measures for prevention: ○ Walls around Europe? ○ Military involvement?

Vested Interests?  Different countries of the EU have broadly different views on how the Refugee Crisis should be tackled, mostly depending on how affected they have been in real terms by the influx of refugees into Europe  International politics are often complicated by informal alliances between nations with the same interests who then collectively present a solution which benefits them  You should arrange yourself into the following groups of countries: Countries significantly affected by the refugee crisis which have had broadly negative response: Greece, Bulgaria, Italy, Malta, Croatia, Hungary, Slovenia, Cyprus, Austria, Sweden (10) Countries significantly affected by the refugee crisis which have had broadly positive response: Germany, Finland, Luxembourg (3) Countries not significantly affected by the refugee crisis which have had broadly negative response: UK, Denmark, France, Netherlands, Romania (5) Countries not significantly affected by the refugee crisis which have had broadly positive response: Portugal, Spain, Belgium, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Ireland, Czech Republic, Slovakia (11)

What are the solutions?  In your groups you should discuss what the possible solutions which would work well for your national interests, as well as for European interests.  You need to come to a solution which the majority of your group agree upon  In five minutes time you will each present your suggested solutions to the rest of the European Council  The Council will then briefly discuss the solutions presented and then vote on its ultimate decision

The Key Issues, Again! (Consider in your discussions!)  What questions are European leaders considering? Prevention vs Regulation vs Tackling the Source? Measures for Regulation: ○ How to cope with the numbers? ○ Refugees vs Economic migrants: Are some more deserving than others? Tackling the Source: ○ Why are refugees coming? War in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan? Economic migrants? ○ Can we help reduce the 'push factors' which cause migration? Measures for prevention: ○ Walls around Europe? ○ Military involvement?

Your Solutions?

What are the EU actually doing?  Saving lives: Common European coastguard in the Mediterranean was benefited from billions of euros in additional funding Investing in initiatives in North Africa and the Middle East aimed at promoting  Investing in integration policies to ensure incoming refugees and migrants can smoothly and quickly adjust to their new lives  Reducing incentives for migration: Investigating, disrupting and prosecuting smugglers networks Strengthening Frontex (the European frontier border agency)