The European leaders will have to decide on Friday whether they continue to support the vision of a united Europe or if they want to return to the past with fencing their national borders. The initiative of the four former eastern countries to block the influx of refugees at the Greece-FYROM border, is a cynical strike against European integration, as explained by the Austrian president, in spite of the Austrian Chancellor’s ambiguous stance.
Our country may be accused of delays in organizing the reception of refugees, but it is truly undemocratic, anti-European and above all inhumane for the leaders of these four countries to place the burden of refugee crisis on Greece. Countries that greatly benefited from Europe after the collapse of the Soviet block, are now refusing to comply with their essential duties that stem from EU membership and contribute towards the management of this major humanitarian crisis.
It is no coincidence that the German, who was the main ally of these countries, is now categorically denouncing their stance. Germany, which has undertaken the largest burden of this crisis and in spite of the reactions domestically, thankfully remains the most consistent source in trying to address the refuge crisis by equally sharing the burden amongst the European countries.
It is clear that the problems in Greece provide an excuse for the hypocritical stance of conservative and far right leaders of certain European countries. Unless the massacre in Syria ends, the problem will not be solved, irrespective of where it is decided to lock up these destitute and persecuted people.
What these counties that are undermining every effort to manage the refugee influx can achieve though is to further erode the effort for a united Europe. Let us hope that the dominant voices of reason in countries leading European integration will prevail and isolate the nationalistic and xenophobic voices that are setting the tone today…
TO VIMA
