EU-Turkey migration deal on life support

A number of EU Member States attacked nearly every aspect of the EU-Turkey agreement on migration agreed on the 7 March 2016 and which the EU leaders hoped to finalise at European Council, Brussels, 17 - 18 March 2016. Cyprus, Bulgaria, France and Spain raised specific objections.

The European Parliament's foreign affairs committee called on 15 March 2016 for the cooperation between Turkey and the European Union on migration to be uncoupled from the EU accession negotiating process.

On the eve of the European Council, President Donald Tusk said on the 16 March 2016: 'Work is progressing, but there is still a lot to do ... The catalogue of issues to be resolved before we can conclude an agreement is long'.

• Primary Source

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: Bargaining bodies: The EU’s deal with Turkey has sacrificed Europe’s principles to appease domestic politics http://www.europeansources.info/record/bargaining-bodies-the-eus-deal-with-turkey-has-sacrificed-europes-principles-to-appease-domestic-politics/

ESO: Background information: UNHCR expresses concern over EU-Turkey plan / UNHCR's reaction to Statement of the EU Heads of State and Government of Turkey, 7 March 2016 http://www.europeansources.info/record/unhcr-expresses-concern-over-eu-turkey-plan-unhcrs-reaction-to-statement-of-the-eu-heads-of-state-and-government-of-turkey-7-march-2016/

ESO: Background information: European Council, Brussels, 17 - 18 March 2016 http://www.europeansources.info/record/european-council-brussels-17-18-march-2016/

Politico, 14.03.16: Spain slams ‘unacceptable’ EU-Turkey deal http://www.politico.eu/article/spain-rejects-eu-migration-refugees-turkey-deal-jose-manuel-garcia-margallo-europe-migration-crisis-refugees/

Politico, 14.03.16: François Hollande: ‘No concessions’ for Turkey over migration http://www.politico.eu/article/francois-hollande-no-concessions-for-turkey-migration/

EurActiv, 14.03.16: Hollande: The European left will make no concessions to Turkey http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/hollande-the-european-left-will-make-no-concessions-to-turkey/

EUObserver, 15.03.16: Cyprus and Spain cast doubt on EU-Turkey migrant deal https://euobserver.com/migration/132686

El País, 14.03.16: Spain opposes blanket return of refugees to Turkey — foreign minister http://elpais.com/elpais/2016/03/14/inenglish/1457956623_684569.html

Kathimerini, 14.03.16: EU wrestles with rights, Cyprus to seal Turkey migrant deal http://www.ekathimerini.com/206954/article/ekathimerini/news/eu-wrestles-with-rights-cyprus-to-seal-turkey-migrant-deal

EurActiv, 15.03.16: Tusk goes to Turkey and Cyprus to finalise migrant deal http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/tusk-goes-to-turkey-and-cyprus-to-finalise-migrant-deal/

European Parliament: Newsroom: Press Release, 15.03.16: Turkey: Don’t tie joint refugee action plan to EU accession talks, urge MEPs http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20160315IPR19449/

EurActiv, 16.03.16: MEPs insist Turkish accession process should be decoupled from refugee deal http://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/meps-insist-turkish-accession-process-should-be-decoupled-from-refugee-deal/

European Council: Statement, 15.03.16: Remarks by President Donald Tusk after his meeting in Nicosia with President Nicos Anastasiades http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2016/03/15-tusk-meeting-anastasiades-nicosia/

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

EurActiv, 16.03.16: Hungary: The EU should solve the refugee crisis without Turkey ‘if necessary’ http://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/hungary-eu-should-solve-the-refugee-crisis-without-turkey-if-necessary/

Politico, 16.03.16: 6 countries that could derail the EU-Turkey migration deal http://www.politico.eu/article/six-countries-could-shoot-down-controversial-eu-turkey-deal/

EUObserver, 16.03.16: Cypriot red lines threaten EU-Turkey summit deal https://euobserver.com/political/132704

European Council: Statement, 15.03.16: Remarks by President Donald Tusk after his meeting in Ankara with Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2016/03/15-tusk-remarks-davutoglu-ankara/

Politico, 15.03.16: Donald Tusk on EU-Turkey migration deal: ‘We’re not there yet’ http://www.politico.eu/article/donald-tusk-nicosia-cyprus-anastasiades-refugees-mustafa-akinci-migration-turkey-accession/

Politico, 16.03.16: 7 dirty words in the EU migration debate http://www.politico.eu/article/7-dirty-words-migration-refugees-asylum-push-back-relocation-hotspots-detention-europe-refugees-crisis-asylum-seekers-syria/

EUObserver, 16.03.16: EU to offer less than Turkey expected https://euobserver.com/migration/132713

EurActiv, 16.03.16: EU vows ‘no blanket returns’ of refugees to Turkey under deal http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/eu-vows-no-blanket-returns-of-refugees-to-turkey-under-deal/

Deutsche Welle 16.03.16: Eastern Europe opposed to EU refugee plan http://dw.com/p/1IEG6

EurActiv, 17.03.16: Leaders make second attempt to hammer out Turkey refugee deal http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/leaders-make-second-attempt-to-hammer-out-turkey-refugee-deal/

Politico, 17.03.16: Insiders trust Angela Merkel to keep EU in premier league http://www.politico.eu/article/insiders-trust-angela-merkel-to-keep-eu-in-premier-league-europe-migration-crisis-refugees-greece-turkey/

EurActiv, 17.03.16: Rajoy clinches ‘last minute’ mandate for summit http://www.euractiv.com/section/elections/news/rajoy-clinches-last-minute-mandate-for-summit/

Euro|Topics: Debates, March 2016: EU set to decide on deal with Ankara http://www.eurotopics.net/en/155869/eu-set-to-decide-on-deal-with-ankara

ECFR: Debate, March 2016: ‘One in, one out’? Prospects for the EU-Turkey deal http://www.ecfr.eu/debate/one_in_one_out_prospects_for_the_eu_turkey_deal6032

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