Europe’s 2015 political crisis over refugees and migration illustrated the lack of a coordinated approach by the European Union on these issues. Three constraints underpin this lack of coordination: the EU’s system of shared competences, the number of actors involved from different areas and with conflicting interests, and the fragmentation of existing programmes at the national level. Several steps can be taken to overcome these constraints, but they require a shared understanding that a joint EU response is essential.

In the next few weeks, the future of Europe’s external face and form will be decided. A new European Commission and new structures if the Lisbon Treaty is ratified offer openings for the EU to act in new ways on the international stage.