Dr. Şimşek: Agreement Between EU and Turkey is Unsuitable to Refugee Rights

Dr. Doğuş Şimşek from Koç University Migration Research Center has evaluated possible outcome of agreement between European Union (EU) and Turkey.

“Policies towards enhancing border control will continue to risk refugees’ lives and increase violation of rights.

“With the readmission agreement coming into force, the refugees who need international protection will be returned to their countries. Death toll on the way to Europe might increase in case access of refugees in Turkey to basic rights and liberties is not provided”.

Refugee rights

Şimşek noting the agreement is unsuitable to refugee rights said policies contradicting international law will be implemented.

“The refugees in need of international protection will be returned by Readmission Agreement and will be deported”.

“Policies contradicting international law might be pursued with enhancing border control and putting readmission agreement into effect.

“Europe will open its doors to refugees it chooses, which means it might have a tendency to accept educated and Christian refugees”.

Political and economic bargain

Şimşek explained that the agreement will not offer a realistic solution to refugee crisis.

“Because a stance considering human rights is not being maintained. A bargain based on political and economic interests is being driven on refugees’ lives.

“The refugees are not being asked how and where they want to live”.

Not a solution

Şimşek drawing attention to the fact that as many as 720,000 refugees have reported crosses into Europe via Turkey emphasized that the issue cannot be solved by border protection policies.

“Even though border protection policies increase, refugees will try to enter Europe.

“In case environments that refugees can live humanely in Turkey, refugees will continue dying en route to Europe.

“Policies as to refugees will fail as long as they are aimed at protecting borders and nation states rather than humans. European countries’ migration policies adopted in past and still in effect are the best example of it”.

What had happened?

EU and Turkey have agreed on bringing influx of Syrian refugees fleeing the civil war into EU countries under control.

According to basis of the agreement, EU will grant 3 million euros of financial support in exchange for migration to Turkey to be brought under control.

Furthermore, in case Turkey meets the 72 criteria as to the refugees including effectively implementing Readmission Agreement by October 2016, visa requirement for Turkey will be lifted for Schengen Area. (YY/TK)

Click here to read the article in Turkish