THE REFUGEE DEAL BETWEEN TURKEY AND THE EU CANNOT BE FURTHER DELAYED
It can be observed that EU Member States do not have yet a clear position regarding the plan submitted by Turkey to the EU during the Turkey-EU Summit held on 7 March. According to Brussels-based news reports, there is still uncertainty among EU Member States concerning the acceptability of the conditions put forward by Turkey. The EU request that Turkey first put into good use the 3 billion euros foreseen for the period 2016-2017 before granting the additional 3 billion euros demanded by Turkey until 2018.
Although the Turkey-EU Summit held on 7 March was reflected in the public as a bazaar-type of bargaining on the refugee issue, it should be noted that the aid demanded by Turkey will only be used for improving the situation of refugees. Moreover, it should not be forgotten that the refugee crisis is an issue of common interest for both Turkey and the EU. Ensuring refugees their access to services and the protection of their rights as well as improving their situation where they are risking their life to go to the EU and are waiting under hard conditions along the borders, is a matter of humanity rather than a bargain. To achieve this, it is essential not only for the EU but the world community of States to create a functioning mechanism that would transfer funds to improve the situation of the refugees.
“Turkish authorities are aware that the visa liberalisation towards Turkish citizens depends on the fulfilment of 72 criteria embodied in the visa Liberalisation Roadmap. What Turkey expects from the EU is an objective, constructive and facilitating attitude in assessing Turkey’s progress with regard to the requirements that need to be fulfilled.”
On the second issue regarding the realization of the visa liberalisation in June 2016, EU leaders underline the need for fulfilling the requirements of the Turkey-EU Visa Liberalisation Roadmap. The European Commission published the Second Report on Progress by Turkey in Fulfilling the Requirements of its Visa Liberalisation Roadmap on 4 March 2016. The Report notes the areas where progress had already been achieved in the fulfilment of the criteria and notes, in total, 46 remaining requirements to be fulfilled. Turkey should continue the process and should implement the required reforms among which the first requirement is the effective implementation of the Turkey-EU Readmission Agreement related to third-country nationals as of 1 June 2016.
It is already known that the visa liberalisation within the framework of the Turkey-EU refugee deal depends on the fulfilment of these requirements. Turkey is aware that this requirement should be fulfilled while proposing to move forward the date for the visa liberalisation to June 2016. Turkey should implement major legal reforms to fulfil these requirements in the following two months. What Turkey expects from the EU is an objective and constructive attitude in assessing Turkey’s progress with regard to the requirements that need to be fulfilled. Based on this, a real progress can be achieved in building mutual trust between the parties.
“The optimal solution to the refugee crisis and further irregular migration would be to tackle it within the framework of Turkey’s accession negotiations with the EU.”
Finally, the EU is remaining impartial in regards to Turkey's request to accelerate the accession negotiations. If this uncertainty remains, this would put all relations into jeopardy. Surely under the condition that Turkey pursues its political reform process and progresses in areas such as the independence of the judiciary and freedom of the press, it is essential to move forward in the negotiation process in order for Turkey-EU relations to continue to evolve on a healthier basis. It is also imperative to lift the obstacles remaining regarding the opening of chapters such as judiciary and fundamental rights; justice, freedom and security; energy; foreign, security and defense policy.
In the final analysis, the optimal solution to the refugee crisis and further irregular migration would be to tackle it within the framework of Turkey’s accession negotiations with the EU. In the event of the EU preferring not to revitalize this process and opting rather for short term solutions to this issue, it would mean nothing less than postponing the resolution of this pending problem. ?