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Turkey to EU: If you want to send us back your migrants, send money, too Turkey to E.U.: If you want to send us your migrants, send money, too
(about 17 hours later)
PARIS — The European Union and Turkey were locked Monday in high-stakes bargaining over Europe’s proposals to send non-Syrian migrants back across the Aegean in attempts to ease the continent’s deepening humanitarian crisis. PARIS — Turkey said Monday that it would do more than the European Union has asked of it to curb the flow of migrants across the Aegean Sea, but only in return for billions of dollars in aid and a new hearing on Turkish membership in the 28-nation group.
The E.U. moves come amid a worrisome backdrop: More than 13,000 desperate refugees and others stranded in makeshift camps at the barricaded border with Macedonia, and the human tide into Europe likely to grow as the weather warms. The proposal, which came at the beginning of a bargaining session in Brussels, caught E.U. negotiators by surprise, and what had been planned as a one-day session was prolonged.
But Turkey — the pathway for more than a million asylum seekers, economic migrants and others in the past year — has set a high bar for agreeing to the plan, which was under discussion in Brussels. The E.U. had hoped to pressure the government in Ankara into accepting a plan under which non-Syrian migrants who had reached Europe would be sent back to Turkey. The Turks clearly saw this as an opportunity to exert some leverage in response.
At stake is billions of dollars in aid and revived talks over Turkey’s decades-long push to join the European Union, where opponents of Turkish membership have cited many potential obstacles including crackdowns on free expression and dissent. The E.U. plan comes amid a worrisome backdrop: Thousands of desperate refugees and others are stranded in makeshift camps in Greece because Macedonia has barricaded its border, and the human tide into Europe is likely to grow as the weather warms.
The deal, originally proposed in November, reflects an increasing desire across Europe to curb the flow of the 1.2 million migrants who arrived on the continent last year — even if it means resettling them in a place many view as unsafe for asylum. But Turkey — the main pathway for asylum seekers, economic migrants and others in the past year — has set a high bar for agreeing to the plan.
According to Human Rights Watch, Turkey does not provide adequate protection for refugees and has frequently sent asylum seekers back to Syria. Although it has ratified the 1951 Refugee Convention, Turkey is the only country in the world that recognizes refugee status only for citizens of certain countries. Only Syrians among the current crop of refugees can claim such status. At stake is billions of dollars in aid and revived talks over Turkey’s decades-long push to join the E.U., where opponents of Turkish membership have cited many potential obstacles including crackdowns on free expression and dissent.
The deal, originally proposed in November, reflects an increasing desire across Europe to curb the flow that brought more than 1 million migrants to the continent last year — even if it means resettling them in a place many view as unsafe for asylum.
According to Human Rights Watch, Turkey does not provide adequate protection for refugees and has frequently sent asylum seekers back to Syria. Although it has ratified the 1951 Refugee Convention, Turkey is the only country in the world that recognizes refugee status only for citizens of certain countries. Among those in the current migration, only Syrians can claim such status.
[As the route to Europe closes, migrants journey through grief][As the route to Europe closes, migrants journey through grief]
Europe’s desperate need for Turkey’s assistance has placed the country in a prime position for negotiation. In what seemed like a test for European leaders, the Turkish government on Friday seized control of Zaman, the country’s largest newspaper. Although the E.U. considers media freedoms a fundamental right, European leaders may look the other way if Ankara agrees to help on migrants.
In what seemed like a test for European leaders, the Turkish government Friday seized control of Zaman, the country’s largest newspaper. Although the European Union considers press freedom a fundamental right, European leaders may look the other way if Ankara agrees to help. In Brussels on Monday, French President François Hollande insisted that Europe’s reliance on Turkey’s participation did not mean that the E.U. condoned restrictions on the news media. “Cooperating with Turkey doesn’t mean we should not be extremely vigilant about press freedom,” Hollande said. “And I am.”
“It's a slap in the face,” one senior EU official told the Reuters news agency on Sunday. Turkish President Recep Erdogan, the official said, “wants obviously to show that he can do what he wants.” Prime Minister Ahmet Davut­oglu surprised delegates in Brussels with Turkey’s expanded proposal. In addition to taking back non-Syrian migrants denied asylum in Europe, Turkey also promised to take migrants intercepted in its territorial waters. And it pledged to crack down harder on smuggling groups.
In Brussels on Monday, French President François Hollande insisted that Europe's reliance on Turkey's participation did not mean the EU condoned restrictions on the press. "Cooperating with Turkey doesn't mean we should not be extremely vigilant about press freedom," he said. "And I am." In return, diplomats said, it requested far more aid money, expedited visa-free travel for Turkish citizens in Europe, and accelerated deliberations on its accession to the bloc.
Yet if Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu accepts the proposed resettlement of all migrants not in need of international protections, Europe, in return, is primed to expedite Turkey’s accession to the European Union, a long-desired aim. “We are not here just to talk about the migrants,” Osman Sert, Davutoglu’s spokesman, said Monday. “Turkey’s accession to the E.U. is an issue for us here.”
"We are not here just to talk about the migrants," Osman Sert, Davutoglu's spokesman, said Monday. "Turkey’s accession to the E.U. is an issue for us here.” E.U. diplomats seemed willing to compromise on existing visa restrictions, provided that Turkey change its visa policies for Islamic states and introduce biometric passports.
Davutoglu surprised delegates in Brussels with a proposal that offered more than the European Union had initially asked but demanded more in return. In addition to taking back non-Syrian migrants denied asylum in Europe, Turkey also promised to take back migrants intercepted in its territorial waters. It also pledged to crack down harder on smuggling groups. By Monday afternoon, Turkey and the E.U. had tentatively agreed to 3 billion euros ($3.3 billion) in addition to the 3 billion euros Europe had initially promised in aid for Syrian refugees in Turkey. But discussions continued late into the night.
In return, diplomats said, it requested more far money in aid, expedited visa-free travel for Turkish citizens in Europe, and accelerated deliberations on its accession to the bloc. E.U. diplomats seemed willing to compromise on existing visa restrictions, provided that Turkey change its visa policies for Islamic states and introduce biometric passports. Speaking from Turkey on Monday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan complained that although four months have passed since the E.U. promised aid, no money has been received.
Reuters initially reported that the exact amount Turkey requested was as large 20 billion euros, but by Monday afternoon both Turkey and the EU had agreed to 3 billion euros ($3.3 billion) in addition to the existing 3 billion euros Europe had already promised in aid for Syrian refugees in Turkey. “My prime minister is currently in Brussels,” Erdogan said. “I hope he will return with the money.”
Speaking from Turkey on Monday, Erdogan complained that although four months have passed since the E.U. promised aid, no money has yet been received.
“My prime minister is currently in Brussels," Erdogan said. “I hope he will return with the money." In Brussels, Sert reiterated that the money was “not for Turkey” but “for Syrians in Turkey.”
[Europe’s harsh new message for migrants: ‘Do not come’][Europe’s harsh new message for migrants: ‘Do not come’]
Leaders of the European Union have come under significant pressure to manage the largest European immigration crisis since the end of World War II. After more than one million people arrived by sea last year, about 2,000 people are arriving in Greece from Turkey every day. On Sunday, local media reported, at least 25 people drowned off the Turkish coast attempting to reach Greece. More than 1 million migrants reached Europe by sea last year, and about 2,000 people are arriving in Greece from Turkey every day. On Sunday, local media reported, at least 25 people drowned off the Turkish coast attempting to reach Greece.
The summit in Brussels comes just days after Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council, appealed to migrants directly: “I want to appeal to all potential illegal economic migrants wherever you are from: Do not come to Europe.” Still grappling with a staggering debt crisis, Greece has neither the resources nor the infrastructure to shelter the constant stream of migrants.
Still grappling with a staggering debt crisis, Greece has neither the resources nor the infrastructure to shelter the constant stream of migrants and refugees who cross the Aegean Sea. More than 10,000 migrants are now at the country’s northern border with Macedonia, desperate to pass through the Balkans and into northern and western Europe. National differences on migrant policies were clear throughout the deliberations in Brussels. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, for instance, was firm in her opposition to permanent border controls; Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann argued the opposite. “It has been too easy for many to simply wave through the refugees,” he said. “The more clearly we argue against this, the better.”
Although European Union officials proposed to earmark 700 million euros ($760 million) in humanitarian aid last Wednesday, individual member states have until now largely been left to their own devices. Some, such as Germany, have re-introduced border controls. Others, such as Croatia, have gone so far as to threaten military deployment against migrants.
[Humanitarian groups accuse French authorities of brutality against migrants][Humanitarian groups accuse French authorities of brutality against migrants]
European leaders worry that too much EU criticism of Turkish authoritarianism might jeopardize the deal, but refugee advocacy groups, such as the United Nations Refugee Agency and Amnesty International, have criticized its legality. European leaders worry that E.U. criticism of Turkish policies might jeopardize the deal, but refugee advocacy groups, such as the U.N. Refugee Agency and Amnesty International, have criticized Turkish actions toward migrants.
Nothing in Turkish law prohibits officials from placing those who have fled other conflict zones — such as Iraq and Afghanistan — in detention camps or even from deporting them altogether.Nothing in Turkish law prohibits officials from placing those who have fled other conflict zones — such as Iraq and Afghanistan — in detention camps or even from deporting them altogether.
Many European officials, however, face electorates increasingly dissatisfied with the migrant situation in their home countries. Most notably, German Chancellor Angela Merkel will face regional elections this coming Sunday. She, among others, is keen to see a semblance of a solution devised by then.
Read more:Read more:
Most of the refugees stuck in Greece are now women and childrenMost of the refugees stuck in Greece are now women and children
Spring could bring a fresh surge of refugees. But Europe isn’t ready for them.Spring could bring a fresh surge of refugees. But Europe isn’t ready for them.
Turkey cracks down on foreign fightersTurkey cracks down on foreign fighters