At a meeting of EU interior ministers in Brussels on Wednesday, the member states said that Turkey was exploiting refugees to get its way politically.
A joint statement said that bloc “strongly rejects” the “use” of migrants by Ankara, saying that the “situation at the EU’s external borders is not acceptable.”
More than 12,500 refugees are waiting at the Turkish border to enter Greece, after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the borders were open last week.
“The EU and its member states remain determined to effectively protect EU’s external borders,” the ministers wrote in the statement.
“Illegal crossings will not be tolerated. In this regard, the EU and its member states will take all necessary measures, in accordance with EU and international law … Migrants should not be encouraged to endanger their lives by attempting illegal crossings by land or sea.”
The interior ministers called on Turkey to “relay this message and counter the dissemination of false information.”
Met w Foreign Minister @MevlutCavusoglu. The EU & Turkey have to work together to face common challenges and find solutions. Unilateral actions by Turkey are an obstacle to developing relations of trust, which are needed today more than ever. Lives of people cannot be put at risk pic.twitter.com/xhGIrMPF0B
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) March 4, 2020
Since Turkey’s decision, the humanitarian situation has deteriorated both at the land border of Greece and Turkey and on the Greek island of Lesbos.
European Council chief Charles Michel and the EU’s top diplomat Josep Borrell were in Turkey on Wednesday as political rhetoric between Ankara and Brussels heated up.
Erdogan has said he will not renegotiate a refugee deal with Europe until the bloc agrees to support its military efforts in Syria, a move French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian called “blackmail.”
“This migratory pressure is organized,” Le Drian said in Paris. “It is organized by President Erdogan’s regime as a form of blackmail against the European Union.”
The European Commission’s proposed the following actions to support Greece, whilst remaining vigilant of developments in Bulgaria and Cyprus.
- Member States to provide the assets needed for the launch of two rapid border intervention operations by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) at the land and sea borders between Greece and Turkey.
- Frontex to coordinate a new return programme for the quick return of persons without the right to stay to countries of origin from Greece.
- Financial assistance of up to €700 million to be provided to Greece. €350 million is immediately available to support border and migration management, in particular to support increased reception capacity, voluntary returns and the infrastructure needed to carry out screening procedures for health and security. The Commission will propose an amending budget to make available a further €350 million.
- Member States to respond to the Civil Protection Mechanism call triggered by Greece to provide medical equipment, shelters, tents, blankets, and other necessary supplies.
- Member States to respond to the call by the European Asylum Support Office to provide 160 experts to be deployed in Greece.
In addition, it is to further strengthen regional and operational cooperation with its partners and develop a coordination mechanism with the Western Balkans countries. Status Agreements to be concluded and fully implemented between the Western Balkans and Frontex. Moreover, resolute actions will be taken to step up the fight against smuggling.
Read more via DW
