Germany has encouraged migrants to come to its territory. The wisdom of that choice notwithstanding, it is Germany’s right as a sovereign nation to do so. But other countries, especially to the east, are less enthusiastic about new arrivals, who must inevitably cross their lands to reach Germany. What about the rights of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia, all nominally sovereign nations? The answer from Brussels reveals much about the state of the union and the balance of power in the EU. Overriding eastern objections, Germany, with French backing, forced through a deal requiring members to accept a share of 120,000 refugees; nations that do not comply are threatened with legal action and financial penalties. This is troubling, and not just because of the tensions it will inevitably create between the older EU members to the west and newer arrivals from the former Soviet bloc.