In the past two years, migration to Europe has dropped significantly. According to the International Organization for Migration, the number of migrants who reached Europe by sea fell by 47% from 2016 to 2017 (from 363,000 to 172,000). A deal the EU signed with Turkey two years ago, called the EU-Turkey Joint Action Plan, is responsible for much of the decline. As part of the agreement, Turkey agreed to take in migrants who arrived on Greek islands through the Aegean Sea and to provide humane living conditions for them in Turkey.
It was also understood that the country would use its security forces to help prevent migrants from trying to reach Europe from Turkish shores.
To say the plan has been successful would be an understatement. Irregular arrivals to the Greek islands have fallen 97% from 2016 to 2017, according to a European Commission report.
In exchange, the EU agreed to:
Provide 6 billion euros ($7 billion) in assistance to Turkey, divided into two tranches, for dealing with refugees.
Resettle Syrian refugees from Turkey legally, with one refugee being resettled in Europe for every illegal migrant returned to Turkey.
Grant Turks visa-free access to the Schengen zone if Turkey fulfilled 72 conditions related to border security and human rights.
Renew EU membership talks for Turkey.But the EU now says Turkey has not met the 72 conditions necessary for visa requirements to be lifted and, as a result, has postponed visa liberalization plans indefinitely. Turkey claims it has met all the requirements.
Equally troubling for Ankara, the EU has also failed to transfer the first full tranche of aid worth 3 billion euros.
At this point, it’s an open question whether these two issues will jeopardize the EU-Turkey Joint Action Plan in the future.
No comments:
Post a Comment