Europe Seeks Solution to Refugee Crisis at Turkey-Greece Border

Thousands of refugees are waiting behind Greece’s borders to enter Europe. European officials have traveled to Turkey and Greece to contain the refugee crisis. Europe offered Turkey one billion euros in aid, but Erdogan rejected it.

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, Charles Michel, President of the European Council, and David Sassoli, President of the European Parliament, traveled to Greece to closely observe the situation of refugees at the Greece-Turkey border. European officials visited the Greece-Turkey border.

Today, Tuesday, March 3 (Esfand 13), Josep Borrell, the European Union’s foreign policy and security chief, along with Janez Lenarčič, the EU’s crisis management commissioner, are scheduled to travel to Turkey for an official visit. According to a statement issued by Turkey’s Foreign Ministry, both sides are expected to consult with Turkish authorities about the refugee crisis and developments in Idlib.

European Union Provides 700 Million Euros in Aid to Greece

Ursula von der Leyen described the refugee crisis at the Turkey-Greece border as a challenge for the European Union and said that the “priority” is to provide assistance to Greece.

During her visit to the border areas of Greece and Turkey, von der Leyen stated that the European Union will provide 700 million euros in aid to Athens. Half of this amount will be given to Greece immediately.

Currently, thousands of refugees are stranded at the Turkey-Greece border. Von der Leyen emphasized that Greece’s concerns and difficulties in this regard are the European Union’s concerns.

The European Union has also offered assistance to Turkey. According to Erdogan, Europe proposed one billion euros in aid to the country, but he rejected and refused to accept it.

The Turkish President, during a meeting with Boyko Borissov, Prime Minister of Bulgaria, in Ankara, told European officials: “They say they will give you one billion euros. Who are they deceiving? We don’t want this money. Turkey has spent 40 billion dollars on refugees and will find that amount itself.”

Erdogan emphasized that Turkey’s expectation from European countries is a “fair sharing of the burden and responsibility of hosting refugees,” which has so far “remained unanswered.” He stressed that the European Union has not fully complied with its commitments under the 2016 agreement.

Erdogan advised Charles Michel, President of the European Council, to “also see the actions of Greece’s coast guard on the Aegean Sea shores.” Erdogan said in this regard: “Greek forces today killed two people and seriously injured another. They do not respect international migration law.”

Erdogan-Merkel Phone Conversation

Turkish President Erdogan and Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany, also discussed developments related to the refugee crisis at the border of Turkey and Greece in a phone conversation.

Erdogan threatened that new refugees would move toward the European Union’s borders. In this phone call, the Turkish President emphasized that “the refugee burden should be fairly divided between Turkey and Europe.”

Merkel said that it is understandable that Turkey expects more aid from the European Union, but opening borders on the pretext of refugees is “absolutely unacceptable” and this issue should not be exploited.

Greece’s Border Closed

Greece has closed its borders to refugees, and the country’s police do not allow refugees to enter.

On social media, videos have been posted by refugee advocacy organizations showing Greek coast guard shooting at migrants’ inflatable boats. In some videos, residents of Greek islands incite actions to repel refugee boats.

Refugees, mostly from Syria, Afghanistan, and Iran, reported to Deutsche Welle that Greek police have “brutally attacked children and women.”

Hussein Mohammadi, an Afghan citizen waiting to enter Europe in Edirne, told Deutsche Welle: “We have no way out and are waiting for European countries to reach a conclusion and grant refugees asylum rights.”

According to the International Organization for Migration (a UN-affiliated organization), following Turkey’s opening of borders toward the European Union, more than 13,000 people were stranded at the border between Turkey and Greece on Sunday, March 1. Refugees intend to enter the European Union’s territory, but the European Union has deployed Frontex forces to protect Greece’s borders against a new wave of refugees.

Last night, Greek police announced that they prevented the illegal entry of more than 5,000 refugees and arrested 45 refugees from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Morocco, and Bangladesh.

Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of Greece, said that “Greece does not surrender to anyone and defends the European Union’s borders.”

European Officials’ Silence on Greek Police Actions

Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Turkey’s Foreign Minister, said today, Tuesday, March 3, during a meeting with Dominic Raab, his British counterpart in Ankara, that none of the European Union members are “questioning Greece’s harsh treatment of illegal migrants.”

According to Çavuşoğlu, Greece should treat refugees in accordance with international law.