Refugees Flood Europe as EU Tensions Rise

By Olga Symeonoglou

As the number of refugees entering European countries increases, the balance between the European Union’s authority and the sovereignty of its member states is threatened. Countries are divided on whether to be welcoming or to close their doors, begging the question: who makes the call? Some, including German chancellor Angela Merkel, French president François Hollande, and EU President Donald Tusk, are calling for an equal distribution of the refugees throughout the EU. Hungarian prime minister Vitor Orbán, insists that stricter immigration rules are in order and disagrees with the forthcoming EU proposal, which could include a requirement that countries who do not take in refugees give support to those who do. Hungary is one of the main entry points into Europe, and the Schengen zone.