The EU and Turkey Refugee Agreement: A Comprehensive Overview

In 2016, the European Union (EU) and Turkey signed a refugee agreement aimed at addressing the massive influx of refugees and migrants into Europe. The agreement, also known as the EU-Turkey deal, has been the subject of much debate and controversy. In this article, we will explore the key provisions of the agreement and assess its effectiveness in managing the refugee crisis.

Background

The refugee crisis in Europe began in 2015, when a large number of refugees and migrants from the Middle East and North Africa started to arrive in Europe. The sheer volume of people seeking asylum overwhelmed many European states, leading to a humanitarian crisis. The EU was struggling to cope with the influx of refugees and migrants, and Turkey, a neighboring country to Syria, was a key transit point for refugees.

The Agreement

The EU-Turkey deal was signed on March 18, 2016, and aimed to reduce the number of refugees and migrants arriving in Europe. Under the agreement, Turkey committed to preventing refugees and migrants from leaving its shores for Greece, and in exchange, the EU pledged to provide financial and political support to Turkey to accommodate the millions of Syrian refugees living in the country.

The agreement also included a resettlement plan, where the EU would take in one Syrian refugee from Turkey for every Syrian returned to Turkey from Greece. The plan aimed to provide a legal and safe alternative for refugees to reach Europe without risking their lives on the dangerous sea journey.

Pros and Cons

The EU-Turkey deal has been praised by some as a successful agreement that has led to a reduction in the number of refugees and migrants arriving in Europe. Statistics show that arrivals in Greece dropped from over 1 million in 2015 to under 30,000 in 2017. Additionally, Turkey has been provided with financial support to help support the millions of refugees residing in the country.

However, the agreement has also been the subject of criticism from human rights groups and other organizations. Critics argue that the agreement violates international law and puts vulnerable refugees and migrants at risk. There have been reports of refugees being forcibly returned to Turkey without proper legal safeguards and being subjected to harsh conditions.

Furthermore, some experts argue that the agreement has not addressed the root causes of the refugee crisis and has merely shifted the problem elsewhere. There are concerns that Turkey, already struggling to accommodate refugees, might not be able to continue to implement the agreement and may be forced to open its borders to refugees again.

Conclusion

The EU-Turkey deal has been a controversial agreement that has divided opinion. While it has led to a reduction in the number of refugees and migrants arriving in Europe, it has also been criticized for violating international law and failing to address the root causes of the refugee crisis. With the ongoing conflict in Syria and other parts of the Middle East and North Africa, the refugee crisis is likely to continue, and policymakers will need to find more sustainable solutions to address the issue.