Europe needs clear policy on refugees

Even by European Union standards, the response to the so-called refugee crisis is a mess.

This seems to defy logic: While the crisis is certainly a challenge, human rights — and, indeed, refugee protection — is embedded in Europe’s DNA.

Instead of spurring solutions, the current crisis has been bringing out all that is ugly, feckless, and dysfunctional about the European project. What happened?

The problem is a lack of clarity. The blurring of the lines between refugee and immigrant has made it virtually impossible to make compelling arguments in favour of proper refugee protection or a more effective immigration policy.

This has thwarted honest and constructive discussion, allowing those who peddle fear and nativism to gain ground.

Following the introduction of German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s open-door policy toward refugees last September, a raft of reports emerged offering economic and demographic arguments within which her decision could be framed.

But such arguments actually poisoned the idea of refugee protection: The focus on the potential economic role of refugees inadvertently reinforced the view that they were, in fact, economic migrants.

Populist parties, which had already gained a foothold by playing on people’s fears of and frustrations with globalisation, seized on this notion.

They declared that the refugees would take jobs from Europeans or, worse, drain European taxpayer-funded social benefits.

Some European populations had already begun to fall prey to nationalist sentiment, so it was not difficult for populists to portray the hundreds of thousands of refugees streaming into European countries as a new threat to national identity.

THE SOLUTION

The horrific terror attacks in Paris and Brussels, though carried out by European nationals, infused a profound sense of insecurity into the discussion.

When all of these challenges are lumped together, the problem seems intractable, creating the impression that an isolationist response is EU countries’ only hope for protecting themselves.

But what Europe actually faces is three distinct challenges: protecting refugees, developing an effective and sustainable immigration policy, and responding to the discontent of second- and third-generation immigrant communities in Europe.

In terms of radicalisation among communities already living in Europe, what too few have pointed out is that these are Europeans.

Dealing with their restlessness and frustration within the context of immigration will only alienate them further.

As for the refugee challenge, the solution must begin with clarity about Europe’s actual responsibilities.

The EU must protect those who face imminent danger if returned to their home country, not everyone arriving at its borders.

Moreover, that protection is not supposed to be permanent. When it is safe to return home, those who have not obtained permanent residency or citizenship should do so.

Everyone must understand that the obligation to protect people fleeing persecution has its limits.

To be sure, Europe should not be shouldering this burden alone. The entire international community should be doing its part.

After the end of the Vietnam War and the mayhem of the Khmer Rouge genocide in Cambodia, 620,000 refugees were resettled in 20 countries.

Such cooperative action is badly needed today. As long as the rest of the international community fails to fulfil its responsibilities towards the refugees, it will remain difficult to convince a sceptical European public to do so.

APPLYING CAUTION

Clarity is similarly vital in addressing immigration. Welcoming immigrants is in Europe’s interest, but precisely which immigrants should be up to Europe.

Yet neither the EU nor any of its member states has a coherent immigration policy with this end in mind.

This must change, with the EU demonstrating its capacity to attract the talent and labour needed to ensure economic growth and competitiveness.

It has been said that differentiating between refugees and immigrants is code for excluding everyone.

That is not the case. A more precise understanding of the distinct problems facing Europe is vital to resolving them.

If we are to address the discontent of marginalised communities in Europe, we need to understand the factors underlying it.

If we are to meet our international obligations toward refugees, we need to know what those responsibilities are.

If we are to ensure that immigration benefits both the newcomers and their host communities, we need to identify what benefits we are seeking.

Without such clarity, populists seeking to tear us apart with their simplistic xenophobic propaganda will thrive.

Ms Palacio is a member of the Spanish Council of State and a visiting lecturer at Georgetown University. Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2016.