Speaker: Arne Lietz, Member of the European Parliament.
Discussant: Markus Kaim, German Institute for International and Security Affairs.

Now in its fifth year, the civil war in Syria has turned into one of the world’s most egregious humanitarian catastrophes, a major challenge to international security, and a main trigger of the refugee crisis currently facing Europe. This talk discusses the European Union’s policy response to the Syrian conflict as well as its attempts to deal with the resulting refugee movements. It outlines the internal and international constraints that have complicated EU decision-making on the issue, and develops policy options for a more effective EU response.