Feature: Europe awaits spring amid multiple crises

2015 marks a year of chaos and disturbance for Europe, but also signals hope.

Refugee influx, terrorist attacks, debt crisis and climate change talks were among the major events and issues that had dramatically influenced the economic and political structures of Europe in 2015, leaving an unusual page in European history.

In this year Europe saw an outbreak of the worst refugee crisis since the Second World War, with an estimated arrival of over 1 million refugees.

The lack of proper collective controls on the European Union (EU) level has led to further escalation of the problem, putting Europe's stability, culture, economic and social order as well as the European integration process at risk.

The shocking image of Alan, a three-year-old Syrian refugee drowned attempting to reach the European shore, aroused the "conscience" of Europe.

A plan to relocate 160,000 refugees was agreed by leaders of the 28 EU member states after tough negotiations. However, the plan fell short in its implementation as only hundreds of refugees have been relocated so far.

Most refugees who have arrived in Europe are from countries undergoing wars and unrests such as Syria, Iraq and Libya, a consequence of the so-called "neo-interventionism" carried out by Western powers.

Nevertheless, when they fled their war-torn homes and finally made their way to Europe's southern borders through the Mediterranean or the Balkan routes, many refugees realised that they were faced with a future of uncertainty and confusion, and that Europe was not exactly the "paradise" they had imagined.

Meanwhile, the once-peaceful European continent was rocked by frequent terror attacks in the past year. In January, terrorists launched a brutal attack on the Paris-based magazine Charlie Hebdo; in November, also in Paris, the Bataclan theatre, the national stadium Stade de France and a restaurant were soaked in the blood of 130 people killed by terrorists.

One thing that deserves our vigilance is the growing trend of domestic terrorism, or homegrown terrorism, in Europe.

Several terrorists who launched the Paris attacks had lived in the district of Molenbeek in Brussels, heart of the EU. Some were born and raised in Europe. Terrorists are also taking advantage of the EU's asylum policy and the Schengen Agreement, which poses further threats to the entire European continent.

The breaking of social stability is accompanied by splittism.

It started with the continuous failures of the Geek debt negotiations. Far-left political groups in the country threatened to leave the Eurozone, whilst the Greek public voted to reject a new bailout offered by international creditors. Although the tension was eased in July as the Greek government accepted an even harsher austerity package, it keeps tearing the European community apart in a social psychological aspect.

Another prominent issue is the risk of a breakdown of the Schengen Agreement, which serves as a pillar for the European Single Market and the free movement of persons.

While some EU countries started to build up walls at their borders to fence off refugees, the border security controls between member states have also been reactivated due to lingering terrorist threats. If Europe fails to adopt effective measures, this great invention in the history of European integration might cease to exist except in name.

In economy, Europe has not yet walked out of the shadow of the debt crisis, with sluggish growth and an unemployment rate that remains at around 10 percent.

In Greece and Spain, half of the youth population are unemployed; inflation rates continue to hover around zero, far below the target of 2 percent; the stimulative measures launched in December by the European Central Bank were criticised by many as "disappointing"; problems with migrants and refugees keep escalating and public safety worsening.

All those led to the accumulation of disappointment and anger among the public, and an opportunity for far-right political groups to rise to power.

The far-right parties, who were marginalised in the past decade, started to make their returns to European political arena.

In France, the anti-migration and anti-Schengen National Front party is gaining more influence. Similar situations can be found in Sweden, the Netherlands, Denmark, Hungary and Italy. In this context, "turning right" signals a drastic change in the landscape and the ecology of European politics.

Under such circumstances, Europe is expected to have another tough year in 2016: the refugee crisis will continue to expand; the battle against terrorism will remain at a critical stage; the voices of social exclusion and Euroscepticism are likely to be magnified.

Where Europe will go is a question truly worth thinking about.

It is an unusual warm winter here in the European capital of Brussels. Europe, going through a "harsh winter", has also seen some signs of a promising spring.

On Dec. 12, around 200 countries and regions reached a historic agreement at the Paris Climate Change Conference, a landmark transition in combating climate change and undoubtedly a highlight of the year 2015.

Even though the stimulative measures have a limited effect, the European economy in general is on track for a slow recovery, with an estimated growth rate of 1.8 percent for 2016.

The European Commission's 300-billion package will enter a critical year for implementation, with the hope of attracting investment and generating jobs; the large refugee influx, while causing extra government spending, will also boosts demand, and in the long term supplement the labor market of Europe.

The key solution to the refugee crisis is promoting peace and development.

In December Libyan factions signed a political agreement, a move considered significant progress in the dialogue towards peace, and an official United Nations-brokered peace talk is expected to take place in January. Meanwhile, the EU is strengthening its support for the development of African regions, and has signed an agreement with Turkey to cooperate on tackling the refugee crisis.

The EU also aims to push forward the European integration process, improve its single market, and create economic vitality in 2016. Britain's referendum on its EU membership could also be moved up to 2016, which might prompt further reforms of the bloc to address concerns of member states.

"If winter comes, can spring be far behind?" This famous quote from British poet Percy Bysshe Shelley's Ode to the West Wind can best represent the New Year wish of many Europeans.

However, surrounded by multiple challenges, Europe still needs comprehensive strategies and effective measures in order to bring back a peaceful spring. Endit