The decision of the European Court of Justice to give its members the discretion to either approve or reject asylum to refugees is an indication that the court too has been swept up in the anti-immigration debate (Editorial — “Open gates”, March 10). The verdict is bound to be a shot in the arm for European leaders such as Viktor Orban of Hungary whose response to the refugee crisis has been to build walls with its neighbours. The ruling will in all likelihood have an effect on voters in the Netherlands, France and Germany who vote this year. While Brexit may have unleashed anti-immigration, the unravelling of the European Union may be hastened by the European Court of Justice which may have unwittingly played into the hands of Eurosceptics. Prima facie, the judgment of the court does seem rational but this will definitely be misused by Eurosceptic parties who want their countries to have a homogenous culture like in the Renaissance era.
Akshay Viswanathan,
Thiruvananthapuram
