EU must move beyond crisis mode on migration

The causes of the current migration crisis in Europe will not be resolved in the short term, so the EU must face facts and deal with this issue fairly and decisively, writes Ana Palacio.

Over the past seven years, Europe has been in crisis mode almost without interruption. From Ukraine to Greece, events have led the continent from the frying pan into the fire and back again, with all of the attendant summitry, declarations, and brinkmanship.

Now, it is a migration crisis — one that is unlikely to be resolved in the foreseeable future — that is commanding the European Union’s attention. But, if Europe is to respond effectively, it must move beyond crisis mode to understand both what it is facing and what it wants to achieve.