Brussels, 07/04/2016 (Agence Europe) - MEPs in the European Parliament's civil liberties committee (LIBE) were rather reserved, if not very critical, about implementation of the agreement reached between the EU and Turkey on 18 March which involves the resettlement of one Syrian refugee in the EU for each asylum-seeking migrant of Syrian or other nationality returned to Turkey.
Some groups, such as the Greens/EFA or the GUE/NGLNGL, quite simply called, on Thursday 7 April, for the agreement to be suspended as they were concerned about the situation in Turkey and about this country's guarantees being too weak.
Maarten Verwey, the European Commission's special coordinator to implement this EU-Turkey Agreement, had nevertheless earlier tried to sing the agreement's positive aspects - an agreement which has already seen a fall in migration flows to Greece. “The effect is very clear. In the month before the agreement there were 676 arrivals per day. This figure has dropped to 400 since March, or even 399”, he said, stating that Turkey, through its President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, had finalised all the practical details to respond to the agreement's legal requirements. Turkey must ensure temporary protection to all asylum seekers who are sent back, and not only to the Syrians. It must also offer them access to all basic services, such as work.
The Commission believes it has the necessary assurances. Another positive effect has been that 74 Syrians have been resettled in the EU as part of this agreement, Verwey said, pleased that there had only been one person who had died at sea since 21 March. “I think a lot of progress has been made”, he said, adding that the Commission was trying to put pressure on the member states to speed up the resettlement of refugees who arrived before 20 March.
At the European Parliament, this enthusiasm is not shared at all. “Since the agreement entered into force, 95% of these people (a rate disputed by Verwey) requested asylum in a few days; their application can be accepted, but they can also lodge an appeal, which means that these people will remain in Greece”, said Elissavet Vozemberg-Vrionidi (EPP, Greece). In addition, she did not believe that the migration flows were drying up or that the Turks had done enough against the smugglers. “This agreement is not well applied and the results are not good enough”, she said.
In the opinion of Birgit Sippel (S&D, Germany), the agreement will enable “the number of people coming to us to be reduced but not the number of refugees”. She also questioned the effectiveness of the legislative changes in Turkey. According to Timothy Kirkhope (ECR, UK), who is “not delighted with the arrangements of this agreement”, it is important for MEPs to be able to see whether all the member states support the agreement and whether Turkey respects its protection obligations properly for those migrants who are returned, before the EU sends money to Turkey.
Kirkhope said that an assessment from the United Nations was needed at least every six months in order to be able to release this money (Ed: currently €3 billion). He also said that the UN should inspect the places where refugees are detained, and the refugee reception conditions - with the funding being paid according to performance. In addition, he wants assurances that the criminal punishment for smugglers is strong enough, and he suggests that an emergency system be activated if Turkey does not respect its commitments.
Barbara Spinelli (GUE/NGL, Italy) though that the agreement was “shameful” and called for it to be suspended on Thursday because Turkey “is not fulfilling any guarantee”.
The Greens/EFA also demanded that the agreement be suspended. “Amnesty International's criticism of the illegal expulsions of Syrian refugees shows an alarming reality. We call for the creation of an ad hoc European Union mission to investigate the situation. In addition, against a backdrop where Turkey does not conform with international law, the expulsion of refugees from Greece must stop immediately”, said Philippe Lamberts (Belgium), the Greens/EFA co-leader, in a press release. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)