Prague, Dec 1 (CTK) – Europe must take the migrant crisis seriously, start solving it immediately and realise that the worst times are still ahead, otherwise it can soon face dozens of millions of migrants, former Czech deputy foreign minister Tomas Pojar says in Lidove noviny (LN) out Tuesday.
It is hard to predict whether or what changes in the EU may follow in reaction to the November 13 terrorist attacks in Paris. France and Germany will continue using the EU to pursue their particular goals and they will further marginalise the EU representatives, Pojar, who was Czech ambassador to Israel in 2010-2014, is quoted as saying.
People like European Council head Donald Tusk, EU diplomacy head Federica Mogherini and EC President Jean-Claude Juncker will continue playing the role of useful puppets, Pojar says.
The Schengen system will undoubtedly change, he says.
As far as the dual-speed Europe model is concerned, it already exists to an extent, which is evident in the case of the euro zone and the rest of the EU, Pojar says.
When it comes to the Maastricht criteria, they have never been fully observed, and this practice will continue, he says.
A shortage of money is not a crucial problem in the EU´s decision-making on whether to start a war conflict with Islamic State, Pojar continues, pointing out the [anti-IS] steps of Russia, with its far-from-flourishing economy.
The crucial problems of the European elites include their insufficient will, playing down of problems and the incapability of taking a strategic approach to defence and security, Pojar says.
The EU neither has nor is going to have a military of its own, which is why it will not be able to wage a war. The Europeans wished the USA´s withdrawal from the scene for a long time and they saw their wish fulfilled recently. However, Europe is helpless without the USA, Pojar says.
The EU cannot rely on a military support from incumbent U.S. President Barack Obama, as his way of thinking is too similar to that of Europe´s leading representatives, Pojar says.
He says the migrant crisis cannot be solved by refugee quotas or good will.
It is necessary to protect the EU´s outer border and stabilise the situation in the crisis areas by a combination of humanitarian aid, military operations and agreements with the countries concerned. The welfare system must be changed and the zero tolerance approach applied to migrants for any misdemeanours, let alone their joining of hostile activities, Pojar says.
Dangerous people make up a minority among the mass of migrants and the non-integrated immigrant communities. However, in view of the total number of immigrants to Europe, there are hundreds of thousands among them who are followers of radical Islamism and dozens of thousands of those who join radical Islamists´ activities, Pojar says.
Further thousands of such people would enter Europe as part of every new million of immigrants, he says.
“I am afraid that Europe´s 25-year-long good and trouble-free period is over now…Radical Islam, the expansive policy of Russia and European fascists pose real threats to Europe. It is unmeasurable which of them is worse. After all, each of them changes in time…We should take all of them seriously…and invest in our defence and security. This is the only way for us to preserve our freedom and prosperity,” Pojar told the paper.
