The European Union’s Response to the Syrian Refugee Crisis

Abstract

This chapter empirically explores and theoretically analyzes the EU’s Response to the Syrian Refugee Crisis. In this regard, an overview of the Syrian refugee crisis is presented, followed by an analysis of the EU’s Response to this humanitarian and security calamity. Thereafter the pros and cons of the European response through the lenses of European integration theories are discussed. Overall, it is argued that internal malfunctions at the European level - in terms of policy and politics - have negatively affected the EU’s response to the Syrian refugee crisis. The crisis needs to be treated as an opportunity for further integration, rather than as an excuse by Member States for further division and political deadlocks.