EU-Turkey Statement. One year on

On 18 March 2016, EU Heads of State or Government and Turkey agreed on the EU-Turkey Statement to end the flow of irregular migration from Turkey to the EU and replace it with organised, safe and legal channels to Europe.

In the midst of the refugee crisis and with thousands of migrants and refugees arriving in Greece every day, this
seemed to many like a plan almost impossible to implement. Yet, one year on, the Statement continues to deliver
proof of its effectiveness on a daily basis. Irregular arrivals have dropped by 97%, while the number of lives lost
at sea has decreased equally substantially.

The EU has delivered on its financial commitment to support Turkey in its efforts in hosting refugees and providing support on the ground and in resettling Syrian refugees directly from Turkey to EU Member States. Turkey has followed up on its commitment to step up measures against people smuggling and has been cooperating closely on resettlement and return.

Despite challenging circumstances, the first year of the EU-Turkey Statement has confirmed a steady delivery of tangible results. While continuous efforts need to be made by all sides and all EU Member States, the EU-Turkey Statement has become an important element of the EU’s comprehensive approach on migration.

Nevertheless, there were considerable tensions in relations between the EU Institutions, individual Member States and Turkey, which threatened the implementation of all aspects of the EU-Turkey Statement - in particular, following the summer 2016 attempted coup in Turkey, the moves to hold a referendum in Turkey on constitutional reform in April 2016 and attendant rallies in Western European countries, and with the Netherlands.

Due to the decline in relations Turkey threatened to suspend the agreement in March 2017.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council and the Council. Fifth report on the progress made in the implementation of the EU-Turkey Statement (COM (2017)204, March 2017) http://www.europeansources.info/record/communication-fifth-report-on-the-progress-made-in-the-implementation-of-the-eu-turkey-statement/

ESO: Background information: Is the EU-Turkey refugee and migration deal a treaty? http://www.europeansources.info/record/is-the-eu-turkey-refugee-and-migration-deal-a-treaty/

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

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

Deutsche Welle, 18.03.17: Money makes the EU-Turkey deal go round http://dw.com/p/2ZOx7

Deutsche Welle, 16.03.17: Turkey threatens to unilaterally suspend EU refugee deal http://dw.com/p/2ZGNF

Amnesty International: News, 14.02.17: EU: Human rights cost of refugee deal with Turkey too high to be replicated elsewhere https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2017/02/eu-human-rights-cost-of-refugee-deal-with-turkey-too-high-to-be-replicated-elsewhere/

EUObserver, 17.03.17: Greek verdict hangs over EU-Turkey migrant deal https://euobserver.com/migration/137277

EurActiv, 17.03.17: Turkey threatens to send Europe ‘15,000 refugees a month’ http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/turkey-threatens-to-send-europe-15000-refugees-a-month/

Politico, 16.03.17: EU-Turkey migrant deal in peril http://www.politico.eu/article/eu-turkey-migrant-deal-cavusoglu-news-erdogan-netherlands/

Anadolu Agency, 18.03.17: Turkish FM urges EU to implement visa-free regime http://aa.com.tr/en/europe/turkish-fm-urges-eu-to-implement-visa-free-regime/774141

The Guardian, 17.03.17: Refugees in Greece suffering after EU deal with Turkey, say NGOs https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/17/refugees-in-greece-suffering-after-eu-deal-with-turkey-say-ngos

Euro|Topics: Debates, March 2017: Turkey refugee deal one year on http://www.eurotopics.net/en/176304/turkey-refugee-deal-one-year-on

openDemocracy: Can Europe Make It?, 22.03.17: Dealbreaker: EU migration policy causes more harm and chaos one year after EU-Turkey deal https://www.opendemocracy.net/can-europe-make-it/michele-levoy/dealbreaker-eu-migration-policy-causes-more-harm-and-chaos-one-year

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