Answer given by Mr Avramopoulos on behalf of the European Commission
30.10.2019
The Commission is aware that the number of arrivals from Turkey to Greece has increased over the past months. The situation is however, by no means comparable to the situation before the EU-Turkey Statement became operational. Arrivals on the Greek islands since June 2019 represent a 91% decrease when compared to the number of arrivals recorded in the two months that preceded the implementation of the EU-Turkey Statement (i.e. 9 January-20 March 2016).
The Commission recognises the exceptional effort of Turkey to host refugees. The Commission also continues to monitor closely the migratory flows from Turkey to the EU and trusts in the commitment of Turkey to continue implementing the Statement. The Commission is in regular contact with Turkish authorities and underlines the importance for Turkey to continue the implementation of the Statement[1]. The Commission calls also regularly on Turkey to implement the Readmission Agreement in full and towards all Member States[2]. This is also one of the benchmarks of the EU visa liberalisation dialogue with Turkey.
As regards Turkey’s drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Commission recalls the European Council Conclusions of 20 June 2019[3] and the Council Conclusions of 15 July 2019[4], in which the EU reiterated its call on Turkey to act in a spirit of good neighbourliness and respect the sovereignty and sovereign rights of Cyprus in accordance with international law.
- [1] Turkey 2019 Enlargement Report, SWD(2019) 220 final.
- [2] Turkey 2019 Enlargement Report, SWD(2019) 220 final.
- [3] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/39922/20-21-euco-final-conclusions-en.pdf
- [4] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2019/07/15/turkish-drilling-activities-in-the-eastern-mediterranean-council-adopts-conclusions/