A Situation Briefing teleconference on the ongoing refugee and migrant crisis in Europe and the embattled continent's political and policy responses. 

More than 750,000 migrants have fled across the Mediterranean Sea to Europe this year, according to the UN refugee agency. Meanwhile, the International Organization of Migration reports that almost 5,000 migrants have lost their lives since January 1. Many of the migrants - who primarily come from the Middle East and Africa - have sought out Germany as their ideal place of refuge. Berlin has said that it might take in 1 million migrants by the end of the year. Many other European countries want to take in more, but simply cannot. As Jeffrey Sachs recently wrote in the Guardian, "Gradual migration is important and replenishes our societies; wide-open doors are unfeasible and unmanageable."

What are the underlying factors of the crisis? Can it be solved? How will policy responses change following the November 13 terrorist attacks in Paris?

Featuring:

Ms. Natalia Banulescu-Bogdan, Assistant Director, International Program, Migration Policy Institute (MPI)

Natalia Banulescu-Bogdan is Assistant Director of MPI’s International Program, where she is primarily responsible for managing the program’s flagship initiative: the Transatlantic Council on Migration. She is also a Nonresident Fellow with MPI Europe. Read more.

Dr. Elizabeth Ferris, Senior Research Associate, Georgetown University; Non-Resident Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution

Elizabeth Ferris is Senior Fellow in the Foreign Policy Studies Program at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C., and Co-Director of the Brookings-Bern Project on Internal Displacement. Read more.

Moderator:

Ms. Shelly Culbertson, Policy Analyst, RAND

Shelly Culbertson is a policy analyst at the RAND Corporation. Her research focus includes international development, education, innovation policy, and the Middle East. She is currently conducting research about urban services and education for Syrian refugees in Jordan, Turkey, and Lebanon. Read more.