Press Release: Managing the Refugee Crisis: Commission reports on implementation of EU-Turkey Statement

On 20 April 2016, the European Commission reported on the implementation of the EU-Turkey Agreement and found that good progress was made to operationalise the Statement. Continued efforts and commitments were needed to consolidate this position and carry out sustained return and resettlement operations, given that this aspect of implementation still largely lied ahead. On 18 March 2016, EU Heads of State or Government and Turkey agreed to end the irregular migration from Turkey to the EU and replace it instead with legal channels of resettlement of refugees to the European Union.

This new approach started to deliver results, with a sharp decrease seen in the number of people irregularly crossing the Aegean from Turkey into Greece. The report also constituted the fourth report on the implementation of the EU-Turkey Joint Action Plan of 29 November 2015.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Press Release: Facility for Refugees in Turkey: Commission delivers an additional €110 million under the implementation of EU-Turkey agreement http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-facility-for-refugees-in-turkey-commission-delivers-an-additional-e110-million-under-the-implementation-of-eu-turkey-agreement/

European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: MEMO/16/1494, 20.04.16: Implementing the EU-Turkey Agreement – Questions and Answers http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-16-1494_en.htm

Euro|Topics: Debates, April 2016: The EU and Turkey - the million-dollar question http://www.eurotopics.net/en/157848/the-eu-and-turkey-the-million-dollar-question

ESO: Background information: Greece begins refugee deportations under EU plan http://www.europeansources.info/record/greece-begins-refugee-deportations-under-eu-plan/

ESO: Information Guide: European Migration Challenges http://www.europeansources.info/record/information-guide-european-migration-challenges/

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/

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