Paris Attacks: EU's Free Movement At Risk

Europe was already struggling to respond to the refugee crisis and the Syrian conflict that caused it.

The Paris attacks have been cynically timed to exploit divisions over both.

One of the pillars of Europe's modern way of life, the ability to move freely across the continent, was already crumbling.

But the passport free Schengen travel zone is now threatened like never before.

Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic have all introduced various forms of controls at their borders over the autumn because of the unprecedented wave of humanity sweeping across them.

A few days ago European Council President Donald Tusk said Europe was in a "race against time" to save Schengen.

A system of free, unimpeded travel across the continent can also be used to transport weapons, bombs and people trained in their use.

With a foreign army apparently deploying fighters on the streets of a European capital, there are real security reasons to reinstate border controls and keep them in place.

But the attacks have also been designed to deepen public fears about the refugee crisis.

At least one Syrian passport, possibly faked and almost certainly left deliberately, has been found near the body of at least one of the attackers.

That will play on public suspicions about migrants that became an unfortunate meme during the refugee crisis.

Those suspicions have already translated into government action.

In the wake of the attacks, Poland has said it will not accept its quota of refugees under the recently agreed European relocation plan.

They will also increase tensions ahead of French regional elections that may lead to more support for right wing parties like Marine Le Pen's National Front - and in other countries too.

Islamist extremists deliberately want far right extremists to do well, knowing their rise increases the disaffection of European Muslims and helps recruit them to their cause.

If far right parties are strengthened by these attacks, then the idea of a multicultural, inclusive Europe, another pillar of modern life on the continent, is in jeopardy.

European leaders are converging on Turkey to meet their G20 counterparts.

There will be an opportunity to express solidarity and win international support for a robust response to the attacks.

But also plenty of room for disagreement, particularly with Turkey that many in Europe blame for not doing enough to stop the flow of migrants into Europe.

French president Francois Hollande has promised a pitiless war on Islamic State, which has claimed responsibility for the Paris attacks.

He will seek support from other countries. They will seek clarification of what exactly he has in mind.

After 9/11 America declared war too, and found itself drawn into unending conflict, while undermining freedoms its enemies sought to destroy.

Not just France, but the whole of Europe, risk the same as they respond to what happened in Paris.