What are the problems of the EU and why are the people unhappy ?
1. Brexit
A slim majority of Britons did vote to leave the EU. Just a couple of months before its self-declared for triggering the Article 50 process of exit negotiations, the May government does not seem to have a clear and unified strategy for either the negotiation process or what it wants to achieve in the future EU-UK relationship.
2. Asylum seekers
The 2015 refugee crisis abated after the EU-Turkey migration deal and the closure of the Balkan route in the spring of 2016. According to the EU’s Frontex border control agency, “the total number of migrants reaching Europe by two main sea routes in 2016 fell by nearly two-thirds, to 364,000 in comparison with 2015".
But while the number of primarily refugees from Syria and Afghanistan coming across the Aegean Sea dropped by about 80%, the number of primarily migrants from West Africa reaching Italy across the central Mediterranean rose by 20%, and reached a record high. The influx into Italy has fuelled mounting concerns and dissatisfaction, which may have contributed to the referendum defeat and resignation of Prime Minister Renzi in December 2016.
Although the number of asylum seekers in Germany fell to below 300,000 in 2016 (according to preliminary estimates, down from almost 900,000 in 2015), Germany still took in more refugees than the rest of the EU combined. This has fuelled doubts about EU solidarity among the German population: the share of Germans who hold a positive view of the EU collapsed from 45% to 29% in the course of one year. Three out of four Germans say they feel let down by their European partners. The stability of the situation is fragile.
3. Political scene
The politics of Europe, along with the rest of the Western world, has entered a new period of volatility.
The EU itself seems to have halted the slide in support and legitimacy it has suffered in recent years, at least for now. One of the effects of Brexit has been to reduce support in the remaining 27 countries for the idea of leaving the EU, although this probably has been driven more by fear of the uncertainty associated with leaving the EU than genuine support for the EU process.
The latest Eurobarometer polls, released in November, also show that the decline in confidence in the EU has been arrested.
What can be improved for the future of the EU?
The people of the EU have to hold together in this difficult time. Only when everyone believes in the project and can not doubt it can peace and freedom be guaranteed.
How we can help to make the situation better?
You must not have any prejudices against other people and you must remind yourself how life was before the EU. There can be constructive criticism, but there are a lot of advantages.
