Turkish threats — the refugee problem

25.7.2019

Question for written answer E-002441-19
to the Commission
Rule 138
Elissavet Vozemberg-Vrionidi (PPE)

According to recent statistics, over the last few months there has been a strong surge in migratory flows from Turkey to Greece along the entire border from Evros to the Aegean islands. In particular, during the period from 20 June-20 July there was an increase of up to 30% in the flows, since on the three islands of the northeastern Aegean — Lesbos, Chios and Samos — alone arrivals amounted to 3 200 people, compared to approximately 2 130 over the same period last year.

At the same time, Mr Çavuşoğlu, Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, has declared, that Turkey will suspend the refugee readmission agreement it has concluded with the EU as a counter-measure in response to the sanctions imposed by the Union on Turkey on account of its illegal activities in the Cypriot EEZ.

Bearing in mind that Turkey has directly and repeatedly threatened to throw open its borders, flooding Europe with refugees and migrants, will the Commission say:

How does it assess these developments? Does it consider that increased flows of refugees and migrants to the Greek islands and to Evros and the threats made by Turkey mean that there is a serious risk of Turkey unilaterally breaching the terms of the EU-Turkey agreement on refugees?