European Commission | Turkey sent 12,000 immigrants to the Greek-Turkish border in February

Defence Redefined

10/06/2020

According to estimates by the European Commission, up to 12,000 refugees and immigrants remained on Turkey’s border with Greece, following the opening of Turkey’s borders in late February.

This emerges from a response of the German Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs to a question asked by the parliamentary group of the German Left Party.

According to the ministry, which calls on the Greek authorities, more than 450 people have crossed the border illegally since February 28, out of whom 137 crossed the border on February 28th and 29th, while 320 did so in March.

Turkey then opened its borders to the EU after Ankara repeatedly demanded more money for refugee care. According to the Federal Government, “statements from the official Turkish side, according to which the borders with the European Union are ‘open’, have contributed to the movement of refugees and immigrants to the Greek-Turkish border.”

Greece then closed the border crossing to the north and immediately some attempted to enter the EU via the border river Evros. Aid organizations have recorded rejections of potential asylum seekers and criticized practices by security authorities that have violated international law. Thousands of refugees remain trapped in temporary camps near the Pazarkule / Kastanies border crossing.

On March 19, Turkey closed its land borders with Greece and Bulgaria due to the pandemic of coronavirus, the German ministry said in a statement. The people who had arrived there were quarantined at Turkish state facilities on March 27.

As of February 28, however, more than 2,400 people had arrived illegally on the Greek islands by sea, that is, without going through an official border station with the necessary documents, and 2,084 in March alone. At the time, there were reports of attacks on journalists and NGOs on the islands of Lesvos and Chios. According to the Federal Government, “members of the Identity Movement (i.e. extreme-right groups) from Germany and Austria have occasionally participated in them.”

According to the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Turkey has “to a large extent” fulfilled its commitments under the EU-Turkey Declaration. The agreement stipulates that all immigrants arriving on the Greek islands without permission from Turkey will need to return. In return, Turkey has been given billions of euros for refugee care. Since 2016, more than 26,500 Syrians have relocated to EU countries.

Die Linke politician, Ulla Jelpke, criticized Germany’s commitment to the “dirty deal”. “In Turkey, very serious violations, custody and torture are on the agenda. Those seeking protection are constantly at risk of custody, illegal dumping and deportation to war zones.”

Source: CNA