The humanitarian crisis occurring on the Belarus-European Union border represents a multifaceted challenge.

First and foremost, what is needed is a joint and coordinated response by the EU and its Member States. That response should be proportionate, and all actions taken, especially on the ground, should abide by international treaties and adhere to European fundamental values, not least the respect for human rights.

In the meantime, it must be recognised that mass population movement due to conflict, climate change, socio-political and economic factors is not new, and it will not abate any time soon. To date, the EU has proven unable to deal with this challenge.

Consequently, the authoritarian regime in Minsk is exploiting the EU’s weakness by instrumentalising such population movements and using vulnerable human beings to exert pressure and to blackmail the EU.

Therefore, this crisis offers a timely reminder that the EU must redouble its efforts towards the establishment of a common, fully-fledged migration and asylum policy, based on solidarity, security and the respect of refugee and migrant rights. At the same time, it must strengthen its capacity to respond to geopolitical events and speak with one voice.