Insufficient Solidarity: The EU’s Response to the Syrian Refugee Crisis

More than 2.7 million people have fled the conflict in Syria for the neighbouring countries of Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Turkey and Egypt, which have limited capacities. Meanwhile, the EU’s burden-sharing mechanisms are at best ad hoc and limited. In June, the bloc will be setting strategic Justice and Home Affairs guidelines, including asylum-related policies. But in the context of continued political introversion, one can expect that burden-sharing between the EU and its neighbours will not be high on the agenda. Yet deeper European solidarity with third countries will nevertheless be the key to ensuring respect for international law outside the EU, as well as triggering solidarity within the union, two issues of acute importance to Poland at present.