Words, no plans

EU leaders discussed the refugee crisis for seven hours without resolving the fundamental conflict between the eastern and western European countries with regard to the distribution of asylum seekers.

They simply avoided the bone of contention - no one spoke about the distribution of refugees throughout Europe. "The climate was constructive," emphasized German Chancellor Angela Merkel, also noting that delegates agreed that the challenges can only be met together. She kept repeating how important and productive the summit with her European counterparts was. No wonder - she had insisted that they all convene.

Little agreement, lots of money

The actual outcome was impressive on a financial level: EU states plan to spend two billion euros to improve the care of the mainly Syrian refugees in Syria's neighboring countries. Half of the money will be paid to the World Food Program and the United Nations Refugee Agency, both of which have been complaining for months about acute financial difficulties. The other billion is primarily intended for Turkey, and some other millions of dollars for Lebanon and Jordan - Syria's neighbors, who have been hosting more than four million Syrian refugees in refugee camps along their borders.

The situation must be improved so people are not motivated to travel to Europe, said the German Chancellor. Turkey is a very important partner, especially with regard to the protection of EU's external borders.

A meeting with the Turkish prime minister in Brussels has been slated for the beginning of October. EU leaders would like to convince him to take more action against mass flight on Turkish territory. The question is, however, why should he do this favor for the Europeans.

Very few ideas on how to resolve the difficulties

It still remains to be seen what the EU is willing to do about the general demand in Europe to protect its borders. The EU Commission plans to submit a proposal by the end of the year in which mutual border protection will be outlined. But it is a touchy issue, as it would interfere in other nations' sovereign rights, like Italy's or Greece's. Both countries are overwhelmed by the task of protecting the maritime borders. But it is also obvious that launching massive military operations to ward off refugees in the Mediterranean would not resolve the problem. So the matter is still open.

Instead, EU leaders are again conjuring the magical "hotspots", which have been discussed for years now. The idea is to set up reception centers in countries where the refugees enter Europe and to immediately separate people in need of protection from those who are considered to be economic migrants. The latter would have to immediately leave the EU.

Hotspots? Just plots of land and ideas

The "hotspots" are supposed to begin operations as soon as November, stressed Angela Merkel. However, this is hardly feasible: Catania, Sicily is the only place that maintains an office of the border protection agency Frontex, which helps the Italian authorities register refugees. Greece can offer a plot of land in the port of Piraeus - preliminary discussions on the establishment of a refugee center there have begun. Bulgaria has indicated that it would also take part in the system.

So far, none of the ideas presented include huge centers where refugees wait to be distributed to another European country or be sent back home. French President Francois Hollande was asked how this would work. Would the refugees in the center be detained and kept under surveillance? He was unable to answer the question – the main point was that rejected applicants would be deported. The hotspot idea has obviously not been worked out in detail.

The EU wants peace in the Middle East

"If we do not combat the cause of flight, then the people will want to flee," said Angela Merkel in the foreign policy debate at the summit. The EU must work more intensively to establish a government of national unity in Libya – a goal she has been pursuing unsuccessfully in the past year.

The German Chancellor no longer has any reservations about Europe's desire to engage in a peace initiative in Syria and said, "One must speak with many players like Iran, the Saudis, Assad, Putin and other regional powers." The French president, whose goodwill Merkel is seeking at the moment, has expressed more skepticism about Assad's possible role in a peace process.

In the end, Merkel admitted that the summit was only "one of the many necessary steps that must be taken" to resolve the crisis. At least the mood among partners in talks has improved since the quarrels in recent weeks.

EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker even went as far as to say that the atmosphere was "excellent." Common ground and Europe's responsibility were highlighted and it seems like the main task was to somewhat repair the damaged relations within the EU.