Agreement with Turkey to stop large scale influx of asylum seekers

The European heads of state and government leaders have reached an agreement with Turkey on a common approach to the asylum crisis. “Is this agreement perfect? No. Is it defensible? It certainly is. However, more important than reaching a deal, is that it’s followed up by results on the ground,” European Parliament member Sander Loones asserts. “Turkey has to practice what it preaches, and Greece has got to make more of an effort. The massive influx of asylum seekers must stop now.”

“For months the N-VA has urgently advocated for a push-back policy in order to discourage families with children from venturing out into the deadly crossing on flimsy boats. Everyone screamed blue murder, but finally we achieved it: all illegal immigrants will be brought back to Turkey. For months we have also pleaded for setting a limit to the number of asylum seekers that can be given shelter in the EU. That point was also the object of significant criticism, but reality has shown that we were right: the agreement provides for resettlement of a maximum of 72,000 Syrians from Turkey to the EU.”

Reaching this agreement has not been easy. “European Council President Donald Tusk has really put himself on the EU map with this deal,” Sander Loones states. “However if the government leaders had put a little more confidence in him, perhaps the deal could have been better. Because of Ms. Merkel’s self-willed conduct, a number of topics have been added to the discussion, such as the question of visa liberalisation and Turkey’s accession to the EU. We would have preferred it otherwise.”

No blank cheque

However, there is a clear difference between the agreement and the blank cheque that Angela Merkel was prepared to sign over to Turkey. For example, the text emphasises that Turkey will not get a free pass when it comes to visa liberalisation. On the contrary: all normal criteria and procedures will remain in force. This deal does not make Turkey a member of the EU, only one new negotiation chapter has unfolded. “In fact it is simple: the EU can hold as many talks with Turkey as it wishes, because it only means that the European Commission investigates whether Turkey meets European standards on certain topics. And it is already clear that the outcome will be negative,” according to Sander Loones. “But even if the European Commission were to reach a different conclusion, even if it were to judge positively across the board, then all member states must still unanimously approve of the accession. And with the N-VA in government, that European unanimity is unlikely to be reached. Turkey simply does not belong in the EU.”

Defensible agreement

However, this agreement mainly demonstrates the benefit of using our own European strength as a springboard. It is clear that closing the northern borders of Greece, which caused its de facto isolation, did not miss its mark. Thus, the result is defensible: no accession to the Union; a strong stance on the maximum limit of refugees to be resettled, and an inevitable strategic approach to every route by land and by sea, to be coupled with push-backs.

“But we remain vigilant,” Sander Loones concludes. “Now Turkey must effectively take all illegal immigrants back, as agreed. Now Greece must correctly register asylum applications and organise the return. And most importantly: the influx to Europe must immediately and dramatically decline. We will continue to monitor that wildly wishful thinking about EU membership or a free travel pass for Turkish nationals to the EU, to ensure that it does not become reality. And when it proves necessary to intervene further in Greece, we must also do that. If they cannot face the challenge, then we must live up to the challenge ourselves. By strengthening our borders and starting from our own European strength, the European Union must once again be able to determine the future course of the game.