EU-Turkey Migrant Deal – PLSC 359: Global Governance

Under the new EU-Turkey migrant deal, Greece is beginning to return migrants to Turkey despite the criticisms and controversy surrounding the arrangement. Beginning on the 20^th March, all irregular migrants crossing from turkey to Greece will be sent back. However for each Syrian returned to Turkey, a Syrian migrant will be resettled in the EU, with a cap set at 72,000 people.

It is interesting to see how international governance bodies are currently addressing the movements of people across borders in our increasingly globalized world. Implementing this deal effectively will be one of the greatest challenges the EU has ever faced. However, a gamble this large begs the question whether the EU is turning its back on the global refugee crisis, and ignoring its international responsibilities towards individuals seeking asylum?

War torn countries, particularly Syria are the biggest drivers of migration. More than a million migrants and refugees have crossed into Europe in 2015 putting a strain on resources and sparking a crisis. I understand the criticisms surrounding the EU-Turkey deal, as it does seem to violate an individual’s right to asylum. However when a country’s economic stability is under threat because of large irregular influxes of migrants, it understandable that other approaches to controlling this flow of people must be considered. Despite this, I believe the challenges and legal issues associated with the EU-Turkey are too great for it to succeed and it will ultimately lead to the mistreatment of thousands of migrants.

The scale of what needs to be done in Greece in the limited time frame is momentous. To exclude any collective expulsions, each individual case will have to be assessed which therefore means thousands of European officials will need to be dispatched to the Greek islands in a matter of weeks. Furthermore, for each Syrian migrant returned to Turkey, the EU is due to take in another Syrian who has made a legitimate request. This seems like a fair system, which honors individuals who try to attempt to enter the EU legitimately. But what happens to the individuals who are sent back to Turkey? Turkey’s current limited asylum system grants migrants from outside of the EU temporary status, meaning that they can stay in Turkey but must ultimately find a long-term solution outside of Europe. Therefore once sent back to Turkey, the future of these individuals is once again uncertain.

http://www.refugeesolidaritynetwork.org/learn-more/turkey-asylum-basics/

The migrant crisis facing Europe is complex and difficult to navigate however this new EU-Turkey deal does little to respect the rights of migrants. They are desperate people escaping a countries riddled with corruption, war and poverty seeking a better life. As our world is becomes increasingly interconnected, members of the EU need to be more accepting of the natural flows of people rather than closing down their borders.

Petra Formankova says:

April 8, 2016 at 11:29 am

You raised the question “whether the EU is turning its back on the global refugee crisis, and ignoring its international responsibilities towards individuals seeking asylum” and described the refugees as “desperate people escaping a countries riddled with corruption, war and poverty seeking a better life”.

I would love to agree with you but there are always small stories that make me mad as they prove that this is not true in many cases.

Even though there is a great opposition to the immigration, there are places that welcome refugees and want to integrate them. However, reactions of the refugees do not always show gratitude, on the contrary they insult.

For instance, one article was published today about the refugees in Germany. A small town of Hettstedt with population of 14 500 was happy to accept immigrants and give them a job. However, the immigrants turned their back on the welcoming Germans and offended them that “this is not the real Germany, we want to go to the real Germany” and left to big cities. What do they mean that a German town is not the real Germany? It is commonly known now that refugees leave other states that offered them asylum because they want to go to Germany, but even if they get to Germany and they are accepted in a welcoming environment where they can have a house and a job and live peacefully, it is still not enough for them. Are these people really in need of an asylum so much? Or are they only using those few who really have to migrate because their life is in danger? How can we help people who do not appreciate our help?

antone says:

April 13, 2016 at 5:01 pm

I think its quite sad to see how Erdogan can use the refugee as a wedge to get whatever he wants from the EU. He has wiped out his domestic opposition, first the Gulenists and then the HDP. He has bombed his own citizens and shut down newspapers of those who oppose him. He opened the doors of Turkey to Islamists and allowed money and soldiers to flow into the Islamic State. He even bought oil from them
However, we, the Americans, need Turkish military infrastructure and bases so we deign to comment on the human rights abuses that he has committed. To force the EU his way, all he had to do was threaten to dump of planeloads of refugees in Berlin. EU politicians fear a flood of refugees more than a dictator at their door.