Communication: Fifth report on the progress made in the implementation of the EU-Turkey Statement

Following almost a year of implementation of the EU-Turkey Statement of 18 March 2016, this Fifth Report again demonstrates that the Statement is producing tangible results, despite the challenging circumstances. The number of crossings since the Statement continues to be substantially reduced and the loss of life has been stemmed.

While EU and Member States' efforts to strengthen the migration management and asylum processing capacity of the Greek administration have continued, arrivals to the Greek islands decreased since the Fourth Report to less than 50 per day. Nevertheless, for the time being the arrivals continue to outpace the number of returns from the Greek islands to Turkey. Living conditions in overstretched reception facilities on the islands continued to be very difficult, in particular during the period of unusually harsh winter weather.

Further progress has also been achieved on other elements of the Statement, which include a stable pace of resettlements of Syrian refugees from Turkey, and the intensified pace of work under the Facility for Refugees in Turkey. The disbursements have reached €750 million (from €677 million). Out of the €2.2 billion already allocated for 2016-2017, contracts have now been signed for 39 projects for an increased amount of €1.5 billion – half of the €3 billion – all of which have started being implemented. In December 2016, the Commission also proposed to the Council draft negotiating directives to modernise the existing EU-Turkey Customs Union to further deepen EU-Turkey trade and economic relations.

The European Council of 15 December 2016 reiterated its commitment to the EU-Turkey Statement, underlined the importance of a full and non-discriminatory implementation of all aspects and endorsed the Joint Action Plan on the implementation of the EU-Turkey Statement, elaborated between Greece and the Commission. This Fifth Report describes the continued progress made since 8 December 2016, as well as the measures still needed for the full implementation of the Statement.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Commission publishes implementation reports on EU's approach on migration http://www.europeansources.info/record/commission-publishes-implementation-reports-on-eus-approach-on-migration/

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