Current Refugee Crisis Points to Lack of Unity Within EU

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres, said that the migrant crisis in Europe is a crisis of political will combined with lack of European unity that is resulting in management mayhem.

UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) — The inability to tackle the refugee crisis in the European Union points to a lack of European unity, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres, said in a statement Tuesday.

“This is a crisis of political will combined with lack of European unity that is resulting in management mayhem. Tomorrow’s EU Council meeting is absolutely crucial to overcome Europe’s divisions and create needed political commitment and momentum,” Guterres said.

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) also pointed out that the proposed refugee relocation program alone would not help to solve the crisis.

UNHCR added it was essential that the 120,000 additional places be approved for any relocation program to be effective.

UNHCR spokesperson Melissa Fleming noted that the agency has urged EU leaders, who will convene for two separate meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday, to unite behind emergency proposals to tackle the refugee problem.

The statement also said that strong EU support should be provided to build new and expand existing facilities for refugees in Italy and Greece.

Earlier in September, Guterres warned that Europe could lose its dominant role in the world if it fails to settle the crisis, as hundreds of thousands of refugees arrive in the European bloc fleeing violence in the war-torn regions in the Middle East and North Africa.

The European Commission estimates that nearly half a million migrants and refugees have entered the European Union since the beginning of the year.