Answer given by Mr Avramopoulos on behalf of the Commission

22.2.2017

The Commission would like to refer the Honourable Member to the Fourth Report on the Progress made in the implementation of the EU-Turkey Statement, adopted on 8 December 2016[1]. The report confirms the trend of a steady delivery of results in the implementation of the EU-Turkey Statement of 18 March 2016[2], which has produced concrete positive results, such as the drastic reduction of deaths in the Eastern Mediterranean, the sharp drop of irregular crossings from Turkey to Greece and the breaking of the business model of smugglers.

The continued successful implementation of the EU-Turkey Statement depends mainly on the political determination of all sides to take the necessary actions. Both sides remain committed to the implementation of the EU-Turkey statement.

• [1] COM(2016) 792 final
• [2] http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2016/03/18-eu-turkey-statement/