According to the article, both problems stem from the EU’s wrongful understanding of the situation in the Middle East, especially in Syria. Brussels supported Arab Spring revolutions across the region; however its expectations for Syria were too optimistic.
When the EU sided with Washington and its regional allies (Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, and Turkey) it was mired into a set of regional conflicts it could never take advantage of, the article read.
As the civil war in Syria intensified the country was engulfed into religious violence between the Sunnis and Shiites. And atrocities by ISIL only aggravated the situation and provoked a massive exodus of refugees to European countries.
The crisis in the European Union is unfolding in the geopolitical dimension where the bloc should take the initiative to conduct its own political course, without influence from the US and NATO.
Currently, the EU’s harsh policy toward Syria is dictated by the US and its allies, the author pointed out.
In order to cope with its domestic crises (like the migrant crisis) Brussels would have to change its foreign policy and find a strategy to deal with the root of the problem, the article read.