Before they have even started, the so-called peace talks about the future of Syria have collapsed. As the balance of forces shifts in the war, none of the parties on the ground have any reason to take serious steps in the talks. All the geopolitical contradictions and tensions are coming to the fore.

The Schengen agreement, regarded alongside monetary union as one of the twin pillars of the European Union, is on the brink of collapse, as national governments erect barriers against refugees. Schengen’s looming suspension marks the latest stage in the crisis of the European Union.

In the final part of his three part series on the crisis in Europe, Josh Holroyd looks at the perspectives for the EU. As the EU’s ongoing political and economic crisis enters a new and potentially decisive phase, many are beginning to question whether the Union’s strategic goal of “ever closer union” can really be achieved.