The implementation of the agreement requires huge operational efforts from all involved, and most of all from Greece. As European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said, this is a Herculean task.....

Brussels, 20 April 2016             European Commission - Fact Sheet

Implementing the EU-Turkey Agreement – Questions and Answers
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On 18 March 2016, EU Heads of State or Government and Turkey agreed to end the irregular migration from Turkey to the EU and replace it instead with legal channels of resettlement of refugees to the European Union. The aim is to replace disorganised, chaotic, irregular and dangerous migratory flows by organised, safe and legal pathways to Europe for those entitled to international protection in line with EU and international law.

The agreement took effect as of 20 March 2016, and 4 April 2016 was set as the target date for the start of returns of people arriving in Greece after 20 March and of the first resettlements. 4 April 2016 thus saw the start of two processes: returns from the Greek islands to Turkey to make clear that this is a dangerous route and the wrong route; and the first resettlements of Syrian refugees from Turkey to Europe, to underline that this is how Europe lives up to its responsibilities as a continent committed to providing protection to those in need, as well as the Geneva Convention and to the fundamental right to asylum.

The implementation of the agreement requires huge operational efforts from all involved, and most of all from Greece. As European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said, this is a Herculean task. Greece and Turkey are the two governments in charge of implementing the agreement. It is their authorities who have to do the legal and operational work. The Commission is assisting Greece with advice, expertise and support from the EU budget and by coordinating – via the EU Coordinator Maarten Verwey – the support which is being provided by other Member States and EU agencies.

Significant first steps in the implementation of the agreement have been taken. So far, 103 Syrian refugees have been resettled from Turkey to Europe. The return of 325 migrants who had not made asylum applications in Greece was carried out from the Greek islands to Turkey, in full respect of EU and international law. There has been a substantial decrease in the numbers leaving Turkey for Greece: in the three weeks preceding the application of the EU-Turkey Statement 26,878 persons arrived irregularly in the islands – in the three weeks subsequent to the Statement 5,874 irregular arrivals took place. Smugglers are finding it increasingly difficult to induce migrants to cross from Turkey to Greece.

Continued efforts are needed from Greece, Turkey and all EU Member States in the days and weeks to come.

What was agreed in the EU-Turkey statement of 18 March?

The EU and Turkey agreed that:

1) All new irregular migrants or asylum seekers whose applications have been declared inadmissible crossing from Turkey to the Greek islands as of 20 March 2016 will be returned to Turkey;

2) For every Syrian being returned to Turkey from the Greek islands, another Syrian will be resettled to the EU from Turkey directly;

3) Turkey will take any necessary measures to prevent new sea or land routes for irregular migration opening from Turkey to the EU;

4) Once irregular crossings between Turkey and the EU are ending or have been substantially reduced, a Voluntary Humanitarian Admission Scheme will be activated;

5) The fulfilment of the visa liberalisation roadmap will be accelerated with a view to lifting the visa requirements for Turkish citizens at the latest by the end of June 2016. Turkey will take all the necessary steps to fulfil the remaining requirements;

6) The EU will, in close cooperation with Turkey, further speed up the disbursement of the initially allocated €3 billion under the Facility for Refugees in Turkey. Once these resources are about to be used in full, the EU will mobilise additional funding for the Facility up to an additional €3 billion to the end of 2018;

7) The EU and Turkey welcomed the ongoing work on the upgrading of the Customs Union.

8) The accession process will be re-energised, with Chapter 33 to be opened during the Dutch Presidency of the Council of the European Union and preparatory work on the opening of other chapters to continue at an accelerated pace;

9) The EU and Turkey will work to improve humanitarian conditions inside Syria.

What has Greece done to implement the agreement?

Since 18 March 2016, Greece has:

Moved all migrants who arrived on the islands before 20 March to the mainland;

Returned to Turkey 316 irregular migrants not in need of international protection, who had arrived before 20 March;

Deployed 5 liaison officers in Turkey;

Provided for closed reception facilities where necessary to avoid irregular migrants absconding when they are subject to return decisions;

Adapted its legislation to provide a legal framework for the implementation of the 'first safe country of asylum' and 'safe third country' principles and ensuring fast-track procedures for the examination of asylum applications, including appeal procedures with currently 20 appeal committees operational to examine all pending asylum claims at second instance by the end of 2016.

What has Turkey done to implement the agreement?

Since 18 March 2016, Turkey has:

Deployed 25 liaison officers in Greece;

Provided formal guarantees that all Syrian refugees returned to Turkey from the Greek islands will see their protection status in Turkey renewed. The amendment to the Temporary Protection Regulation for Syrians entered into force on 7 April. The law states that Syrian nationals who crossed irregularly to Greece after 20 March via Turkey upon their return to Turkey may request and be granted the protection under the temporary protection regulation;

Provided a further general assurance, by letter of 12 April, that returned Syrians will be granted temporary protection upon return. Discussions are advancing on providing 'individual assurances' for non-Syrians.

Continued to discuss measures to ensure that all people in need of international protection returned from the Greek islands to Turkey will have access to the asylum procedures in Turkey.

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