On 13 October 2015 The European Movement Croatia organised a round table on “Migration and Security in Europe”.

The speakers were prof. Vlatko Cvrtila, an expert on geopolitics, dr. Mate Granic, co-ordinator of the Operational Group for the crisis and foreign policy correspondent Ivana Dragicevic.

The round table discussed the impact the current migration crisis is having on the European Union and the establishment and improvisation of safe corridors in Croatia that have been used by more than 160,000 refugees and migrants so far.

Our speakers said that the EU is at an important crossroads. The Schengen system of no internal borders was designed to work when external borders are effectively monitored. Should the management of the external borders remain with Member States or should it go to joint control?

The round table concluded that stronger controls at EU borders are necessary. They also concluded that the EU should establish and develop reception and registration centres especially in the popular first point of EU entry “hot spots” for refugees and migrants. Among other things these facilities would determine who has a right to international protection and therefore entitled to asylum.

There was also consensus that this is the European Union’s biggest challenge so far and that the only way to try and ease the crisis is through more dialogue with fellow member states which will hopefully lead to an enduring solution.