EUROPE will soon have more physical barriers on its national borders than during the Cold War, according to research by the Economist magazine.

More razor wire in Macedonia, new fences between Hungary and Serbia and checks on the Oresund Bridge between Sweden and Denmark are just a few anti-migrant measures, implemented in the last two months.

At the same time, a new wave of Syrian refugees has been driven out by the Russian bombardment of Aleppo.

Thirty five thousand are currently cowering on the borders of Turkey, which already hosts two million Syrians.

Despite three billion euros in inducements from the EU, and this week’s visit by Angela Merkel to Ankara, Turkey refuses to take more.

Most other Syrian refugees live in Jordan and Lebanon,

often in UN camps, which are desperately short of money for shelter, education and food.

Others are still making the suicidal journey to Europe in flimsy boats on winter seas.

Their plight has led to renewed calls for the West to take more in.

The irony is that when asked, most Syrians want only to return to their homes, their jobs and their country.

German research shows that just eight per cent of Syrian refugees questioned want to stay permanently in Europe.

Contrast this to the economic migrants, who comprise 60 per cent of new arrivals in Europe, according to Frans Timmerman, Vice-President of the European Commission.

Citing unpublished figures from EU border agency Frontex, he says most are from North Africa and not fleeing war or persecution at all.

Mr Timmerman says illegal economic migrants must be sent home within two months and genuine refugees prioritised.

In view of the chaotic EU response to the migrant crisis, I wish him luck.

Meanwhile, while the EU fiddles, Aleppo burns.