We should call for major contributions from the regional states. European countries. and other traditional donor countries long committed to the humanitarian crisis. Dealing with so many refugees in safe. humane conditions will be expensive. yes. but it cannot be more expensive than the costs already being borne by those destination countries burdened with uncontrolled migration. In the current discussions of Turkey. the EU has offered 6 billion euros to help them deal with refugees. and Turkey has reportedly demanded as much as 20 billion euros. With such sums being discussedand they almost certainly are underestimatesthe costs for caring for these desperate people humanely. in conditions of safety. and in or near their homeland. are easily justified. Far greater costs will be incurred if this problem is not dealt with effectively. For example. a collapse of the Schengen system and reimposition of border controls in Europea process now underwaycould cost as much as 1.4 trillion euros over the next 10 years. according to a recent European Commission report. This is the cost in reduced economic outlook for the region. not including the costs for infrastructure and personnel if the Schengen system is abandoned. In returning to where I began. the extra security gained by such a solution is beyond price. I strongly believe the time has now come for us to press vigorously for the safearea solution to the migrant crisis. The problem is growing far worse with each passing month. Efforts to identify other solutions have failed. and the safearea proposal may be the only one left standing.
Keywords matched
border control migrant refugees