Greece begins refugee deportations under EU plan

Series Title
Series Details 04.04.16
Publication Date 04/04/2016
Content Type

Under heavy security, authorities on the Greek islands of Lesvos and Chios deported 202 migrants and refugees on boats bound for Turkey in the early hours of the 4 April 2016 – the first to be sent back as part of the European Union agreement with Turkey to limit the amount of migration to Europe.

Sources also reported on the situation in Turkey, where officials and residents in coastal communities close to Greece expressed opposition to refugees being sent back to their cities. There were also reports of increasing tensions between Syrian refugees and Turkish people as the authorities made it increasingly difficult for refugees to pass through Turkey.

In the meantime, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan warned the European Union on 7 April that Ankara would not implement the deal if Brussels failed to fulfil its side of the bargain.

Source Link http://www.ekathimerini.com/207594/article/ekathimerini/news/greece-begins-refugee-deportations-under-eu-plan
Related Links
European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: MEMO/16/1221, 04.04.16: Implementing the EU-Turkey Agreement – Questions and Answers http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-16-1221_en.htm
ESO: Background information: International Summit: Meeting of the EU heads of state or government with Turkey, Brussels, 7 March 2016 http://www.europeansources.info/record/international-summit-meeting-of-the-eu-heads-of-state-or-government-with-turkey-brussels-7-march-2016/
ESO: Background information: UNHCR calls for safeguards to be in place before returns begin http://www.europeansources.info/record/unhcr-calls-for-safeguards-to-be-in-place-before-returns-begin/
ESO: Information Guide: European Migration Challenges http://www.europeansources.info/record/information-guide-european-migration-challenges/
EurActiv, 04.04.16: Greece and Turkey ready first refugee returns under EU deal http://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/greece-and-turkey-ready-first-refugee-returns-under-eu-deal/
Politico, 04.04.16: Europe’s migrants, Turkey’s problem http://www.politico.eu/article/europes-migrants-turkeys-problem/
BBC News, 04.04.16: Migrant crisis: Greece starts deportations to Turkey http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35956836
Deutsche Welle, 04.04.16: First migrants leave from Greece as EU-Turkey deal comes into force http://dw.com/p/1IOqp
EUObserver, 04.04.16: Greece begins migrant deportations to Turkey https://euobserver.com/migration/132895
Euro|Topics: Debates, April 2016: EU begins deporting migrants to Turkey http://www.eurotopics.net/en/
EUObserver, 04.04.16: EU sends back 200 migrants, despite legal concerns https://euobserver.com/migration/132910
The Guardian, 04.04.16: Calm as EU migrant deal takes symbolic first step but true test is to come http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/04/symbolic-first-step-eu-deportation-deal-greece-turkey-dikili
European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: STATEMENT/16/1231, 04.04.16: Statement by Commissioner Avramopoulos following his visit to Ankara http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-16-1231_en.htm
Deutsche Welle, 05.04.16: How the EU-Turkey refugee deal works http://dw.com/p/1IPkC
Deutsche Welle, 05.04.16: Seeking to avoid deportation, asylum applications in Greece soar http://dw.com/p/1IPb0
Deutsche Welle, 06.04.16: As the dream of Europe fades, Syrians try to figure out a life in Turkey http://dw.com/p/1IQSb
Kathimerini, 06.04.16: Tensions flare at Piraeus Port as migrants refuse to evacuate makeshift camp http://www.ekathimerini.com/207687/article/ekathimerini/news/tensions-flare-at-piraeus-port-as-migrants-refuse-to-evacuate-makeshift-camp
Kathimerini, 08.04.16: Greece to expel more migrants under EU-Turkey deal Friday http://www.ekathimerini.com/207727/article/ekathimerini/news/greece-to-expel-more-migrants-under-eu-turkey-deal-friday
BBC News, 08.04.16: Migrant crisis: Deportations resume from Greece to Turkey http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35993767
EurActiv, 08.04.16: Erdogan warns he will ditch refugee deal if EU breaks promises http://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/erdogan-warns-he-will-ditch-refugee-deal-if-eu-breaks-promises/
Spiegel Online International, 08.04.16: Uncertain Future: Weaknesses Emerge in EU-Turkey Refugee Deal http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/first-week-underscores-problems-of-eu-turkey-refugee-deal-a-1086244.html
Euro|Topics: Debates, April 2016: EU begins deporting migrants to Turkey http://www.eurotopics.net/en/156745/eu-begins-deporting-migrants-to-turkey
Kathimerini, 14.04.16: Human rights group slams EU, Greece over refugee, migrant living conditions on islands http://www.ekathimerini.com/207916/article/ekathimerini/news/human-rights-group-slams-eu-greece-over-refugee-migrant-living-conditions-on-islands
Human Rights Watch: News, 14.04.16: Greece: Asylum Seekers Locked Up https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/04/14/greece-asylum-seekers-locked

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