“The EU should take a carrot and stick approach. The current allocation formula, which dictates how many migrants member states take in, is very fair. It is based on unemployment rates, GDP, population size and density. Based on that, countries should be supported financially when they take in refugees. Decent numbers, not a drop in the bucket. Flat out refusal to accept any migrants should not be allowed, and should be penalised. In short, any country which refuses needs to either have EU financing withheld from them, or be taxed or fined. Enough money that it hurts. That’s an immediate solution.” 

The EU is not only struggling with how to treat those who stay, but also with those that they want to return to their home countries. The conference asks: how should the EU work with third countries to ensure smooth handling of return and reintegration of those who have no right to stay in the EU?

“The EU should be more realistic about its return policies. For example, a lot of EU member states want countries to take back non-nationals. But it’s unreasonable to ask Morocco to take back Nigerians just because they crossed through Morocco. Some governments also don’t want to take back people they feel like have been wrongly treated by the EU. They understand why their citizens have migrated irregularly to the EU, because the EU simply doesn’t have enough regular migration entrance channels! These countries argue that they let Europeans visit without any problem, but the EU doesn’t let their citizens do the same. As an American, I don’t need a visa to visit Europe, but a Nigerian does. Those countries decry the idea of a ‘fortress Europe’ that their citizens cannot enter.” 

Read more on the website of Studio Europa Maastricht.