Flüchtlingskrise

Flüchtlingskrise, or the European migrant crisis, refers to the period starting in 2015 when large numbers of refugees and migrants sought asylum in Europe, many fleeing wars and persecution in Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, and other regions. The term is widely used in German-language media and policy debates. The phenomenon involved both refugees—people fleeing armed conflict—and irregular migrants.

Main routes included Mediterranean crossings from North Africa to Italy and Greece, overland transit through the Western Balkans, and many migrants using Greece as a gateway to Northern Europe. Numbers peaked in 2015 with more than a million first-time asylum applications in the European Union, with Germany and Sweden among the most affected countries, while some others faced administrative strain. Exact figures vary, but the scale was unprecedented in recent decades.

Responses at the European level included efforts to manage arrivals, process asylum claims, and relocate or resettle asylum seekers within the EU. The Dublin Regulation framework guided responsibility for applications, while the 2016 EU-Turkey statement sought to curb irregular crossings. External-border controls were tightened, and reception centers, search-and-rescue operations, and funding for asylum processing and humanitarian assistance became central parts of policy discussions, though implementation differed by country.

Impacts of the crisis were broad, affecting political cohesion, public opinion, and national security considerations. The episodes contributed to debates over immigration and integration and raised humanitarian concerns about conditions in reception centers and asylum systems. The crisis also spurred long-term policy shifts toward asylum procedures, return policies, and strengthened cooperation with third countries, as well as increased focus on border management and European solidarity.

Outlook: after 2016 flows declined somewhat due to policy measures, but displacement remains ongoing due to conflicts elsewhere. The crisis left a lasting imprint on EU migration policy, border governance, and internal politics, shaping debates on solidarity, asylum, and cooperation with neighboring regions.