Greece in December will seek the renewal of a 2016 migration deal between the EU and Turkey, the Greek migration minister said on Saturday (23 September).
“We want an agreement. The climate is positive,” migration minister Dimitris Kairidis told state TV ERT.
“The agreement will be mainly Euro-Turkish. This is a Euro-Turkish problem,” Kairidis said.
The aim is to amend and “expand” the 2016 agreement “with Greece’s initiative, because we have the more immediate interest” as a frontline migration state, the minister said.
The so-called “EU-Turkey Statement” of March 2016 agreed on three key points: Turkey would take any measures necessary to stop people travelling irregularly from Turkey to the Greek islands, anyone who arrived on the islands irregularly from Turkey could be returned there, and for every Syrian returned from the islands, EU member states would accept one Syrian refugee who had waited inside Turkey.
In exchange, Turkey would receive €6 billion to improve the humanitarian situation faced by refugees in the country, and Turkish nationals would be granted visa-free travel to Europe.
The issue of the deal’s renewal is expected to be discussed at a 7 December meeting between senior Greek and Turkish officials in Thessaloniki.
The breakthrough reportedly came following a New York meeting between Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan this week.
Alongside neighbouring Italy, Greece has seen a spike in migrant arrivals this year.
According to ministry figures, over 18,000 people arrived in the first eight months of the year, an increase of 106% compared to 2022.
Both Greece and Turkey have accused the other of failing to honour the 2016 agreement, and Erdogan has warned repeatedly that he could flood Europe with refugees.
The situation became particularly tense in February 2020, following Ankara’s official decision to let thousands of migrants enter EU territory.
*first published in: Euractiv.com
By: N. Peter Kramer
