難民大量流入 欧州の結束と人権が問われる

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Refugee crisis tests EU solidarity and human rights principles
難民大量流入　欧州の結束と人権が問われる

There has been a sharp rise in the number of refugees and illegal migrants flowing into Europe from the Middle East, Africa and elsewhere, magnifying the turmoil.
　中東やアフリカなどから欧州に流入する難民や不法移民が急増し、混乱が拡大している。

Can the European Union, which emphasizes principles of human rights, organize a mechanism for member states to share the burdens of accepting refugees smoothly? Their solidarity will be put to the test.
　人権重視の理念を掲げる欧州連合（ＥＵ）が加盟国間で重荷を分担し、円滑な受け入れ体制を整えることができるのか。結束が問われよう。

The rapid rise in refugees stems from the ever volatile situation in the Middle East and North African countries as a civil war grinds on in Syria and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) extremist group gains power.
　難民急増の原因は、中東・北アフリカ情勢が不安定になったことだ。シリア内戦の泥沼化や過激派組織「イスラム国」の台頭などが引き起こした。

The total number of refugees and illegal migrants arriving in EU countries by crossing the Mediterranean this year topped the 300,000 mark by the end of last month, already surpassing by far the about 220,000 refugees who reached there in the whole of last year.
　地中海を渡って欧州に到着した難民や不法移民の総数は、今年８月までに３０万人を超えた。昨年の約２２万人を既に大きく上回る。

In many cases, they headed for Europe aboard small vessels arranged by smugglers, with tragic incidents occurring one after another. Large numbers of migrants have lost their lives when their vessels capsized.
　密航業者の仲介により小型船などで欧州に向かうケースが多く、転覆による大量死など惨事が相次いでいる。

The photographs of a dead Syrian toddler washed ashore on a Turkish beach have shocked the world.
トルコの海岸に遺体で漂着したシリア難民の幼児の写真は、世界に衝撃を与えた。

The EU has to cooperate with the relevant countries and quickly take such measures as cracking down on migrant smuggling vessels to prevent such incidents from recurring.
　ＥＵは関係国と協力し、密航船の取り締まりなど再発防止策を早急に講じねばならない。

Most of the refugees and migrants are seeking to be resettled in wealthy countries such as Germany and the Nordic nations. In Budapest, a large number of refugees gathered at a station in an attempt to board trains for Germany, temporarily paralyzing the functions of the station.
　難民らの多くが、経済的に豊かなドイツや北欧を目指している。ブダペストでは、ドイツ行きの列車に乗ろうと、難民が多数集まり、駅の機能が一時マヒした。

Central role for Germany

Holding the key to the EU’s refugee policy is Germany, a country that has accepted the largest number of refugees. This year the number of refugees seeking asylum in Germany from around the world is expected to quadruple from last year to 800,000.
　ＥＵの難民政策のカギを握るのは、最大の受け入れ国であるドイツだ。今年、世界各地からの難民申請の総数は昨年の４倍の８０万人に上ると予測される。

Germany, due to reflection on its persecution of Jews during the Nazi era, has adopted a liberal asylum policy. Its warm treatment, including the provision of living expenses to asylum seekers, has drawn a flood of refugees.
　ドイツは、ナチス時代のユダヤ人迫害への反省から、寛大な難民受け入れ政策をとってきた。申請者への生活費支給など手厚い保護が難民の殺到を招いている。

As a result, friction has surfaced there, with far-right extremist groups attacking refugee shelters.
　その結果、国内では、極右集団が収容所を襲撃するといったあつれきが表面化している。

German Chancellor Angela Merkel showed her strong sense of alarm, saying that for the EU, the refugee issue will have greater importance than the Greek fiscal crisis.
　メルケル首相は「難民問題は、欧州にとってギリシャの財政問題よりも重要になる」と語り、強い危機感を示した。

Merkel asserted that it is necessary to make “fair distribution” of refugees among the EU member countries and intends to realize this with cooperation of France and others.
　首相は、ＥＵ加盟国で難民受け入れの「公平な割り当て」が必要だと主張し、フランスなどの協力を得て実現を図る考えだ。

From September to October, the issue of refugee quotas will be taken up for discussion at an emergency meeting of EU justice and interior ministers and at an EU summit.
今月から来月にかけて、ＥＵ法相・内相理事会と首脳会議で話し合う。

The EU member countries in Central and Eastern Europe, including Hungary, are opposed to quotas for refugee relocation among EU countries. In these countries, with less vibrant economies, there is strong anxiety among the people that their jobs will be taken away by refugees.
　ハンガリーなど中東欧諸国は割り当てに反対だ。経済水準が低いため、国民の間で難民に職が奪われることへの不安が強い。

Germany and France need to expedite their efforts to win these countries’ agreement to the quota. It will be necessary to differentiate between refugees seeking protection from persecution and illegal migrants seeking jobs in EU countries.
　独仏は中東欧諸国の説得を急ぐ必要がある。迫害から保護すべき難民と、就労目的の不法移民を選別することが求められる。

For the fundamental solution to the refugee problem, it is vital to improve the situations in the Middle East and Africa. It is important for the international community, including Japan, to reinforce diplomatic efforts and support to achieve regional stability.
　難民問題の根本的な解決には、中東・アフリカ情勢の改善が欠かせない。日本を含む国際社会は、地域安定に向けた外交努力や支援を強化することが重要だ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 8, 2015)