FT: Tusk Bazaar for returning non-Syrians in Turkey
The EU It is close to a major deal with Ankara that would provide that all non-Syrians immigrants arriving in the Greek islands will be sent back to Turkey, making an important step in hardening the block attitude towards people flows arriving in the territory.
After weeks of diplomatic pressure from Berlin and Brussels, Turkish Prime Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, has sent a signal in camera negotiations Thursday that Ankara will accept returns of non-Syrians and will step up its actions against traffickers.
Although the agreement is not final and its implementation will be difficult, it may be the turning point sought long in immigration crisis in Europe, giving new impetus to a strategy that has failed to reduce the flow of people crossing the Sea .
Two diplomats with knowledge of the discussions said Thursday that Turkey has agreed to accept and all migrants rescued in international waters by NATO, a sensitive issue that had delayed progress in business.
Donald Tusk, the President of the European Council, sent a stern warning that Europe's doors are closed to those who are not entitled to asylum: "I want to address all potential illegal economic migrants from wherever you come: do not come to Europe."
To give weight to this warning, Europe must be put back in front of the system-refoulement of migrants who have no prospect of being recognized as refugees. About 2,000 people a day arrive in the Greek islands, of which half are Syrians. Overall, 1.2 million immigrants arrived in EU countries last year by the sea.
The delicate trilateral meeting in Ankara was attended by Mr. Davutoglu Tusk and Frank Timmermans, European Commission vice president. In statements made immediately after Mr. Tusk said he believes it will be able to "announce progress in return."
"For many in Europe, the most promising method seems to be a quick and extensive mechanism of return of illegal immigrants arriving in Greece," he said. "We will paralyze the networks of traffickers," he said.
Earlier Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte claimed that such an agreement is "little effect" that can be expected from the meeting between the EU and Turkey on Monday. "The least I hope that we can achieve is to accelerate the return of third country nationals and economic migrants," he said. Rute.
Echoing the tougher stance adopted by Berlin, the Dutch prime minister also called on Turkey to reduce "significantly" the people flows before the EU signed an agreement for the transfer of refugees directly from Turkey to the bloc. "You must bring them to the point from which I can see the ground," said Mr. Rute in the Financial Times.
Ankara stated that it is able to guarantee a sharp reduction in flows and wants Europe to accept Syrian refugees directly from Turkey to prevent the dangerous trip to Greece. Davutoglu said Thursday that "it is wrong to let the refugee crisis only on the shoulders of Turkey and Greece."
Any such large-scale resettlement offer is expected to close bilaterally with Angela Merkel, which will meet with Davutoglu Sunday. Berlin flirted with the idea to combine part of any reduction of illegal immigration-a promise that could involve hundreds of thousands or but negotiations with Ankara stuck. Some diplomats also expect that Ankara would press for additional visa rights for Turkish citizens.
Tusk will see Erdogan Friday. The Turkish President has adopted a "calm» (cool) stance on EU-Turkey negotiations for refugees, creating suspicions in Brussels that can delay the blow to traffickers circuits.
Over 120,000 refugees and migrants arrived in Greece from the beginning of the year. But with almost closed the border with Macedonia has emerged a potentially dangerous accumulation of refugees and migrants in the north of the country, creating a humanitarian crisis concerns on Europe's borders.
Although Turkey has a readmission agreement with Greece, it has rarely been used in the 14 year old history. Nearly 300 migrants returned to Turkey this week.
The EU It is close to a major deal with Ankara that would provide that all non-Syrians immigrants arriving in the Greek islands will be sent back to Turkey, making an important step in hardening the block attitude towards people flows arriving in the territory.
After weeks of diplomatic pressure from Berlin and Brussels, Turkish Prime Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, has sent a signal in camera negotiations Thursday that Ankara will accept returns of non-Syrians and will step up its actions against traffickers.
Although the agreement is not final and its implementation will be difficult, it may be the turning point sought long in immigration crisis in Europe, giving new impetus to a strategy that has failed to reduce the flow of people crossing the Sea .
Two diplomats with knowledge of the discussions said Thursday that Turkey has agreed to accept and all migrants rescued in international waters by NATO, a sensitive issue that had delayed progress in business.
Donald Tusk, the President of the European Council, sent a stern warning that Europe's doors are closed to those who are not entitled to asylum: "I want to address all potential illegal economic migrants from wherever you come: do not come to Europe."
To give weight to this warning, Europe must be put back in front of the system-refoulement of migrants who have no prospect of being recognized as refugees. About 2,000 people a day arrive in the Greek islands, of which half are Syrians. Overall, 1.2 million immigrants arrived in EU countries last year by the sea.
The delicate trilateral meeting in Ankara was attended by Mr. Davutoglu Tusk and Frank Timmermans, European Commission vice president. In statements made immediately after Mr. Tusk said he believes it will be able to "announce progress in return."
"For many in Europe, the most promising method seems to be a quick and extensive mechanism of return of illegal immigrants arriving in Greece," he said. "We will paralyze the networks of traffickers," he said.
Earlier Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte claimed that such an agreement is "little effect" that can be expected from the meeting between the EU and Turkey on Monday. "The least I hope that we can achieve is to accelerate the return of third country nationals and economic migrants," he said. Rute.
Echoing the tougher stance adopted by Berlin, the Dutch prime minister also called on Turkey to reduce "significantly" the people flows before the EU signed an agreement for the transfer of refugees directly from Turkey to the bloc. "You must bring them to the point from which I can see the ground," said Mr. Rute in the Financial Times.
Ankara stated that it is able to guarantee a sharp reduction in flows and wants Europe to accept Syrian refugees directly from Turkey to prevent the dangerous trip to Greece. Davutoglu said Thursday that "it is wrong to let the refugee crisis only on the shoulders of Turkey and Greece."
Any such large-scale resettlement offer is expected to close bilaterally with Angela Merkel, which will meet with Davutoglu Sunday. Berlin flirted with the idea to combine part of any reduction of illegal immigration-a promise that could involve hundreds of thousands or but negotiations with Ankara stuck. Some diplomats also expect that Ankara would press for additional visa rights for Turkish citizens.
Tusk will see Erdogan Friday. The Turkish President has adopted a "calm» (cool) stance on EU-Turkey negotiations for refugees, creating suspicions in Brussels that can delay the blow to traffickers circuits.
Over 120,000 refugees and migrants arrived in Greece from the beginning of the year. But with almost closed the border with Macedonia has emerged a potentially dangerous accumulation of refugees and migrants in the north of the country, creating a humanitarian crisis concerns on Europe's borders.
Although Turkey has a readmission agreement with Greece, it has rarely been used in the 14 year old history. Nearly 300 migrants returned to Turkey this week.
