Clueless EU: Expert warns migration crisis ‘an untreated festering wound’ for Brussels

European policy expert Rem Korteweg identified from non-EU countries as a key risk factor for the unity of the . Brussels has been facing increasing pressure to completely reform the current migration policy within the bloc, with countries such as threatening to cut payments to the bloc unless cooperation in processing arrivals is implemented. Mr Kortaweg insisted the reforms proposed so far have been “hardly a sustainable solution,” and warned the bloc about more conflict emerging between Brussels and national governments in EU countries. 

Speaking to Express.co.uk, the European policy expert said: “The four horsemen, as far as I saw it, were the eurozone crisis, the migration crisis, Brexit and Russia.

“If you go by those four, we haven’t talked about the migration crisis which I think is still very much a festering wound inside the European Union.”

Southern European countries, mainly Italy, and Spain, saw an increased number of migrant arrivals from across the Mediterranean Sea in 2015. The majority of migrants – an estimated 1,015,078 – arrived in the first year of the crisis and numbers have since decreased below 200,000 per year.

He continued: “How to set up a fair and durable system of dealing with migrants from non-EU countries? It’s not migrants, but refugees rather. That really came to the fore in 2015.

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“The numbers have come down since then but the issue is very much politically sensitive. No steps really have been taken.

“The only step that has been put on the table is to increase the EU’s border control capacity – which is hardly a sustainable solution.”

European Commission boss used his last State of the Union speech before retiring from the role to announce plans for the deployment of an extra 10,000 border patrol officers to tackle unlawful immigration into the bloc. 

Brussels has been engaged in a bitter battle with Hungarian President over his refusal to accept migrant relocation quota as devised in EU policy. 

Addressing calls for more power to be given to the bloc’s border agency Frontex in September, President Orban said: “So the plan is that if Hungary cannot be forced to let in migrants, then it must be stripped of its right to protect its borders.

“They want to send mercenaries here from Brussels and take away this from our Hungarian sons who are protecting the borders.

“And we should not have any illusions, they will let in the migrants.”

The ripple effects of the migration crisis appeared to reach British shores during the Christmas holidays as several people were rescued as they attempted to cross the Channel from France.

Around 100 suspected migrants are believed to have attempted the crossing since Christmas Eve with a further 100 arriving since November. The number of arrivals stands at 239 at the time of writing. 

Calm waters and milder than average winter temperatures are thought to be behind the spike in migrants believing a safe crossing is possible.

Home Office officials said Secretary had “taken control of the response to the rising number of migrants attempting to cross the Channel in small boats”. It added there was “concern that it is only a matter of time before people lose their lives”

The department said: “He has insisted the Home Office treat the situation as a major incident and has appointed a Gold Commander and asked for daily updates.