The Biggest Disasters Europe is Currently Facing

  • Brexit
  • Anti-EU Sentiment
  • Nationalist Parties Coming to Power
  • Independence and Autonomy Referendums
  • The Refugee Crisis

Europe is facing a conglomerate of disasters, but there are five in particular that threatens to do real damage to the region. From Northern Italy voting for greater autonomy in the face of the Catalonia independence referendum to the fear that Brexit talks will end without an EU trade deal, the region is currently undergoing massive changes. Here is a quick summary of the five biggest issues facing Europe right now.

1. Brexit

Among the most well-known disasters currently facing Europe is Brexit. Narrowly passing by referendum last year, the current Prime Minister of the UK, Teresa May, is facing down a potentially devastating end to talks with the European Union, according to The Guardian. If no trade deal can be struck with the EU going forward, the UK faces having to direct all businesses to adhere to trade rules administered by the World Trade Organization. This will cause major issues for Europe in general, as UK businesses and citizens have long enjoyed free trade and business deals with the region; their absence from European trade could signal a rocky transition that is already a bitter battle based on citizens’ rights who are of EU origin but live and work in the country.

2. Anti-EU Sentiment

Along with Brexit comes the potential disaster known as Euroscepticism, or anti-EU sentiment. For the past few years, Brussels, the headquarters of the European Union, has been hit with criticism by politicians in member states, all decrying a bureaucracy that is not well-understood by EU citizens but which dominates most aspects of their lives. With issues such as Greece’s bankruptcy and austerity measures, the refugee crisis, and even trade deals, Europe is undergoing an identity crisis that is evident in the rise of nationalist parties as well as the refusal of some member states to adhere to EU guidelines on various issues.

3. Nationalist Parties Coming to Power

Nationalist parties and politicians have recently begun taking hold of seats within European countries; from France to Finland, Denmark to Austria, nationalist parties are not only taking the highest positions in their country but also forcing ruling parties to build coalition parties with them in order to sustain their leadership position. This is cause for alarm in Europe, as nationalist sentiment is growing and threatens to upend democratic values in the region. It could bring down the European Union, who has stringent rules on refugees and migration, an issue that nationalists say risks the purity of their countries.

4. Independence and Autonomy Referendums

Catalonia, an autonomous region found in Spain, recently voted overwhelmingly for independence, an act that could see more regions within countries battle for autonomy or independence; a few examples would be Scotland, Northern Italy, and the Basque Country, which is also found in Spain. These referendums could spell disaster for Europe, as new governments and infrastructure would need to be created in order to support new regions and countries; however, the biggest issue is that these referendums come with a price, according to The Guardian. In Spain, the government has moved to direct rule for Catalonia, which could signal a civil war if the parties cannot agree to talks. Elsewhere in Europe, clashes, bankruptcy, and governmental crises threaten to throw the region into chaos.

Terrorism and the Refugee Crisis

5. Of all of the potential disasters Europe faces, terrorism and the refugee crisis it has created continues to be the biggest threat. With Daesh and other militant terrorist groups recruiting people from Europe to train in Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan with an eye towards returning them home so they can carry out attacks, Europe is facing two threats at the same time: a stream of refugees fleeing Syria and other compromised countries through no fault of their own and terrorists who may be hiding among them. While some European countries have welcomed refugees with open arms, others have decried them and refused to open their borders. This has led to a major humanitarian crisis, one which threatens the democratic morals of the countries in the region.

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Europe is a massive region that is compromised of different countries with differing values, cultures, and goals. While it has been one of the most influential regions in terms of international relations for decades, the slew of disasters it currently faces threatens to change its ability to be an example for other regions around the world. Only time will tell if Europe can weather the storm of these five potential disasters that it is currently facing.