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

Following the outcome of the Meeting of the EU heads of state or government with Turkey, Brussels, 7 March 2016 to discuss the migration crisis, the spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said on the 8 March 2016:

'UNHCR has taken note of the Statement of the EU Heads of State and Government of Turkey last night and we are concerned with some aspects of the proposal. ... On the face of what appears to have been agreed, we are ... concerned about any arrangement that involves the blanket return of all individuals from one country to another without sufficiently spelt out refugee protection safeguards in keeping with international obligations.

Austria's interior minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner also criticised the proposed deal between the European Union and Turkey, saying on the 9 March 2016 that Europe was in danger of 'throwing its values overboard'.

Members of the European Parliamentv (MEPs) demanded details on the 9 March 2016 of the deal struck by EU leaders with Turkey on the management of migrant and refugee flows. They underlined that the international asylum rules must be respected. In a plenary debate with the Council of the European Union and the European Commission, most political group leaders insisted that EU accession negotiations with Turkey and talks on visa liberalisation for Turkish nationals travelling to the EU should not be linked to the refugee issue.

Presenting his annual report to the Human Rights Council on the 10 March 2016, UN Human Rights Chief Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said the situation of migrants and refugees reaching the shores of Europe was 'dramatic'. He cautioned the EU about its draft arrangement with Turkey, announced on the 7 March 2016, which he said could potentially lead to 'collective and arbitrary expulsions' and restriction of border crossings to people of specific nationalities, in contradiction with international and European law.

The related url hyperlinks below present further reactions to the EU-Turkey deal agreed on the 7 March 2016, much of it critical.

• Primary Source

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

ESO: Background information: Austrian restrictions trigger domino effect across Balkan refugee route http://www.europeansources.info/record/austrian-restrictions-trigger-domino-effect-across-balkan-refugee-route/

UN: UNHCR: News, 25.02.16: Grandi warns of critical refugee bottleneck in Greece http://www.unhcr.org/56ced9a56.html

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/

UN: UNHCR: News, 08.03.16: UNHCR's reaction to Statement of the EU Heads of State and Government of Turkey, 7 March 2016 http://www.unhcr.org/56de9e176.html

European Parliament: Press Release, 08.03.16: Plenary: MEPs debate outcome of EU-Turkey summit http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20160304STO17381/

Politico, 10.03.16: Europe finds no delight in Turkish deal http://www.politico.eu/article/europe-finds-no-delight-in-turkish-deal-migration-refugees-deal/

EurActiv, 10.03.16: [Opinion]: Philippe Lamberts: Europe’s governments have shown ‘unconscionable cowardice’ over migration crisis http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/interview/philippe-lamberts-europes-governments-have-shown-unconscionable-cowardice-over-migration-crisis/

EUObserver, 08.03.16: UN 'deeply concerned' by EU-Turkey plan https://euobserver.com/migration/132602

Euro|Topics: Debates, March 2016: Controversial refugee deal with Ankara http://www.eurotopics.net/en/154882/controversial-refugee-deal-with-ankara

The Guardian, 10.03.16: [Opinion] This Turkish deal is illegal and betrays Europe’s values http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/mar/10/refugee-crisis-turkey-deal-europe-values

The Local.at, 10.03.16: Austria 'extremely critical' of EU-Turkey migrant deal http://www.thelocal.at/20160310/austria-extremely-critical-of-mooted-eu-turkey-migrant-deal

Amnesty International: News, 08.03.16: EU Turkey Summit: EU and Turkish leaders deal death blow to the right to seek asylum https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2016/03/eu-turkey-summit-reaction/

Deutsche Welle, 10.03.16: EU-Turkey deal on track despite human rights concerns? http://dw.com/p/1IBMI

Deutsche Welle, 10.03.16: UN human rights chief slams 'race to repel' migrants http://dw.com/p/1IAev

UN: OHCHR: News and Events, 10.03.16: UN Human Rights Chief Zeid presents his annual report to the Human Rights Council http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/ZeidPresentsHisAnnualReport.aspx

EUObserver, 10.03.16: Geneva convention, Turkey visa demands trouble EU states https://euobserver.com/migration/132649

EurActiv, 10.03.16: Turkey-EU refugee swap deal ‘temporary’: Netherlands http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/turkey-eu-refugee-swap-deal-temporary-netherlands/

Politico, 10.03.16: Juncker: EU-Turkey refugee deal could require legislative change http://www.politico.eu/article/juncker-eu-turkey-refugee-deal-could-require-legislative-change/

ECFR: Podcast, March 2016: The ‘one-in one-out’ EU - Turkey deal http://www.ecfr.eu/podcasts/episode/ecfrs_world_in_30_minutes_the_one_in_one_out_eu_turkey_deal

EUObserver, 11.03.16: [Opinion]: EU-Turkey refugee deal doesn't add up https://euobserver.com/opinion/132638

EUObserver, 16.03.16: UN outlines legal concerns on EU-Turkey deal https://euobserver.com/migration/132696

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