Brussels, 29/06/2016 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 28 June, the European Council welcomed the results achieved with the agreement between the EU and Turkey of 18 March to stem migratory flows in the Aegean Sea.
In their conclusions, the heads of state or government welcomed the fact that this agreement, together with the full application of the Schengen Borders Code, in other words the prolongation and re-establishment of controls at certain points of the internal Schengen borders, has made it possible considerably to reduce the flows of migrants arriving from Turkey on the Greek islands. These flows have practically stopped altogether.
The European Council stressed that it wished actively to continue the fight against illegal migration flows in the same way. It also reiterated its support to Turkey which, it stresses, is a safe third country. In the conclusions, the Council referred to the various laws enacted by Turkey in favour of the Syrians and other nationalities, such as access to employment, which “allows returns of migrants to Turkey”.
At the same time, the Council believes, support must be continued to the countries of the Western Balkans, in particular to step up the fight against smugglers. It is also vital to remain vigilant as to the potential development of other routes, the member states stressed. Just one line of the conclusions is given over to the resettlement programmes for refugees or relocation programmes for asylum seekers, to the effect that these should be speeded up.
However, they laid emphasis on the targeted partnerships the European Commission has proposed to set in place with a number of African countries. These partnerships would be based on conditionality in funding, as the budgets paid would be related to the efforts made to keep the populations in the countries. Pre-agreements for the readmission of migrants reaching the EU illegally may also start to be applied pending full agreements, according to the European Council. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)