Britain's future, migrant split reveal growing EU divide

Tensions between European Union leaders at this week's summit in Brussels have highlighted a gnawing lack of confidence that the bloc of 28 nations can provide timely answers to Europe's challenges.

The crisis is also hurting Europe on a psychological level, with the refugee response increasingly unworthy of Europe's proclaimed values and possibilities as a powerful, relatively prosperous world trading bloc.

Professor Hendrik Vos of Belgium's University of Ghent, says EU migration policy is hardening along the lines of Hungary's populist leader, Viktor Orban, who has erected anti-migrant razor-wire fences.

The fear of EU migrant workers taking advantage of Britain's welfare system is partly driving Prime Minister David Cameron's push for a referendum on whether his country should leave.

At the summit, Cameron pushed his partners for reforms that include limiting benefits to those migrant workers, ensuring that nations like Britain that are outside the euro currency union don't have to pay for euro needs, as well as simplifying EU bureaucracy.

Italy's economic woes have seen Prime Minister Matteo Renzi aggressively take German Chancellor Angela Merkel to task in recent months on the economy, migration and energy policy.

While ostensibly Europe's driving force, Merkel has also become synonymous with the austerity measures imposed on countries like Greece to meet fiscal targets and budget plans.