Europe’s migration crisis began back in 2015, with the arrival of over a million refugees, the majority from the war in Syria. Many thousands more from different countries have since sought refuge on European shores for one reason or another, whilst the tightening of external borders and asylum laws have proved ineffective in stopping the boats.

There have been years of disagreements over migration amongst the member states of the European Union, which have caused damage to the bloc’s unity. In recent months, however, it looked like some progress had been made towards a fairer and more uniform migration system, but a proposal to relocate people to different parts of Europe was met with opposition.

As the flow of people into frontline countries like Italy, Greece and Spain looks set to continue in the future, it appears that collective action from the member states, looks further away.

This week on The Inquiry we’re asking ‘Can Europe solve its migrant crisis?’

Contributors:

Hanne Beirens, Director, Migration Policy Institute Europe, Brussels

Cathryn Costello, Full Professor of Global Refugee and Migration Law, UCD Sutherland School of Law, University College Dublin, Ireland

Charles Kenny, Senior Fellow, Centre for Global Development, Washington DC. USA

Martin Ruhs, Chair in Migration Studies and Deputy Director of the Migration Policy Centre at the European University Institute (EUI), Florence, Italy.

Presenter: Tanya Beckett

Photo: MSF Ship GEO Barents rescues migrants off the Libyan coast in the central Mediterranean Credit: Reuters