Migrants who fail to apply for asylum will be sent back to Turkey
On March 18, 2016. the EU reached a deal with Turkey concerning refugee migration. The deal seeks to close the most popular route used by refugees heading north through Europe. From now on, any migrant who reaches Greece’s shores will be sent back to Turkey, unless they have an accepted asylum plea. The deal also says that, for every Syrian refugee returned to Turkey, another refugee’s claim for asylum will be approved.
Since news that negotiations regarding the deal were underway, Greece saw a dramatic influx of refugees. Due to the sheer number of migrants, BBC News has reported that Greece will be unable to observe the deal until the number of migrants already landed in Greece lessens and the flow slows down. Some 2,300 experts—including translators, and security and migration officials—are set to arrive in Greece to assist in processing and settling future migrants, as well as to support the deal’s implementation. However,Greek officials have since stated that none of the experts have arrived, slowing the deal’s implementation further. AFP News has quoted government migration spokesperson Giorgos Kyritsis, who said, “A plan like this cannot be put in place in only 24 hours.”
The EU hopes that the deal will discourage migrants from taking the often dangerous cross-sea journey from Turkey to Greece, which has already claimed the lives of over 400 migrants this year alone.
In return for shouldering the EU’s burden, Turkey will receive aid and political concessions. Turkish nationals will now have access to the Schengen passport-free zone by June. The EU is to speed up the allocation of €3.3 billion in aid to help Turkey support the migrants. Additionally, the EU has agreed to invest more time and energy into processing Turkey’s bid to join the European bloc, with talks due by July 2016. The deal also requires that Turkey “take any necessary measures to prevent new sea or land routes for illegal migration [from] opening.”
Critics have argued that the deal will do little to dissuade migrants from taking illegal, and potentially more dangerous route, like the journey between North Africa and Italy. BBC News reported that since March 19, the Italian coastguard has rescued more than 900 people from the Strait of Sicily amid increased traffic. Still, others worry that Turkey will be unable to adequately accommodate the sheer number of migrants already in Turkey, the migrants set to arrive, and the migrants who will be sent back to Turkey.
Human Rights Groups continue to protest the deal, with Amnesty International accusing the EU of turning “its back on a global refugee crisis.” March 19 saw global protests against the deal, with concerned citizens and activists holding rallies in London, Athens, Barcelona, Amsterdam, among other cities. Only hours after the deal was settled, BBC News reported that the UN declared that the policy would be “illegal.” Vincent Cochetel, the UN’s regional coordinator for the refugee crisis said during a news briefing in Geneva: “An agreement that would be tantamount to a blanket return of any foreigners to a third country is not consistent with European law.”