2015年-CEPS欧洲政策研究中心_Europes_Double_Refugee_Crisis_3页_312kb

Europe's Double Refugee Crisis Summary

Core Content

The document titled "Europe's Double Refugee Crisis" by Daniel Gros, published on 8 September 2015, discusses the challenges faced by the European Union in managing the influx of refugees and the inefficiencies of the current asylum system. It highlights the disparity in how different EU member states handle the refugee crisis, the limitations of the Dublin system, and the growing role of economic migrants in the asylum process.

Main Views

• Refugee Influx and Inequality: The EU is experiencing a significant refugee crisis, with Germany receiving the largest share of asylum applications, accounting for 40% of the total. This is disproportionate to its population and economic size, and even smaller countries like Sweden receive more applications per capita than the UK.

• Dublin System Flaws: The Dublin system, which assigns responsibility for processing asylum applications to the first EU country a refugee enters, is criticized for placing an unfair burden on frontline states. These states often lack the resources to handle large numbers of asylum seekers, while others, like Italy, may be incentivized to ignore arrivals due to the knowledge that many will seek asylum elsewhere.

• Economic Migrants and Asylum System: The asylum system was not designed for economic migrants. However, many economic migrants are exploiting the system by submitting asylum applications, hoping to gain access to social services and financial support while their applications are processed.

• Self-Reinforcing Feedback Loop: The increase in asylum applications from the Balkans is attributed to a feedback loop where the time it takes to process applications makes staying in Europe more appealing than returning home. This is especially true in the poorer parts of the Balkans, where the financial incentives of the asylum process are significant.

• Political Challenges: The EU faces political challenges in addressing the refugee crisis due to the lack of consensus among member states. Countries with fewer refugees often resist burden-sharing, making it difficult to reach a unified solution.

Key Information

• Refugee Numbers: Germany receives 40% of the EU's total asylum applications, while smaller countries like Sweden receive 15 times more per capita than the UK.

• Dublin System: Established in the 1990s, the system has become outdated due to the increase in refugee numbers and porous borders. It is seen as unfair and inefficient.

• Economic Migrants: A significant portion of asylum seekers in Germany now come from safe countries like Serbia, Albania, and Macedonia. These individuals are not fleeing war or persecution but are seeking economic opportunities.

• Processing Delays: Delays in processing asylum applications lead to increased numbers of applicants, as the waiting period provides financial and social benefits.

• Need for Reform: The document calls for urgent reforms, including increasing the capacity of member states to process asylum applications and improving burden-sharing mechanisms across the EU.

Conclusion

The EU's current asylum system is inadequate and unsustainable. The Dublin system has failed to address the growing refugee crisis and has led to unequal distribution of responsibility among member states. The influx of economic migrants further complicates the situation, as they exploit the system for financial gain. To address these challenges, the EU must enhance its processing capabilities and implement a more equitable burden-sharing mechanism. This is essential not only for managing the crisis effectively but also for upholding international law and moral responsibility.