Turkey can be stated as one of the European Union's main partners in the Middle East and in accomplish the current European migrant crisis issue. On March 2016, they signed an agreement which is about the refugee crisis. Turkey relations with other Middle East country significantly declining after the 2016’17 Turkish clearance action, including the suppression of its media freedom and the arrests of journalists, as well as the country's turn to authoritarianism under the AKP and Erdo”an. Later on 24 November 2016, voted between the European Parliament to delay the accession negotiations with Turkey over human rights and rule of law concerns is not compose. Then On 13 December, the European Council which is included the heads of state or government of the member states resolved that it would open no new areas in Turkey's membership talks in the "prevailing circumstances", as Turkey’s path toward autocratic rule makes progress on EU accession impossible.
On 20 March 2016, EU and Turkey had deal to tackle the migrant crisis has formally come into effect. Under the deal, migrants arriving in Greece are now expected to be sent back to Turkey if they do not apply for asylum or their claim is rejected. The flow of people crossing to Greek islands grew up ahead of the deadline and Greece said it would not be able to execute the deal immediately. The deal says that for every Syrian migrant sent back to Turkey but once Syrian already in Turkey, they will be resettled in the EU. However, there were still many question that being heard which is about the implementation of the agreement and how the migrants would be sent back. Some 2,300 experts, including security and migration officials and translators, are set to arrive in Greece to help enforce the deal. Functions of the deal is hoped that people will be discouraged from making the dangerous journey from Turkey to Greece along the sea. In return, Turkey will receive aid and political concessions.
Regarding to the Syrian refugee deal, Eu and Turkey has concluded that Turkey and the European Union reconfirmed their commitment to the implementation of their joint action plan activated on 29 November 2015. Many progress had been achieved already, including the opening of labour market to Syrians under temporary protection by Turkey, the introduction of new visa requirements for Syrians and other nationalities, stepped up security efforts by the Turkish coast guard and police and enhanced information sharing. Moreover, the EU has begun spent around 3 billion euro of the Facility for Refugees in Turkey for concrete projects and work has advanced on visa liberalisation and in the accession talks in the last December. Turkey agreed to accept the rapid return of all migrants not in need of international protection crossing from Turkey into Greece and to take back all irregular migrants intercepted in Turkish waters on 7 March 2016. This two country also agreed to continue stepping up measures against migrant smugglers and welcomed the establishment of the NATO activity on the Aegean Sea. At the same time Turkey and the EU recognise that further, swift and determined efforts are needed.
In order to break the business model of the smugglers and to offer migrants an alternative to putting their lives at risk, the EU and Turkey decided to end the irregular migration from Turkey to the EU by agreed on several additional action.
The first one stated that all new irregular migrants that crossing from Turkey into Greek islands as from 20 March 2016 will be returned back to Turkey. This will take place in full accordance with EU and international law, thus excluding any kind of collective expulsion. All migrants will be protected in according with the relevant international standards and in respect of the principle of non-refoulement. It will be a temporary actions and extraordinary measure which is necessary to end the human suffering and restore public order. Registration and any application for asylum will be processed individually by the Greek authorities in accordance with the Asylum Procedures Directive, in cooperation with UNHCR for who migrants whose arrived at Greek islands. Those who not applying for asylum or whose application that they apply has been found unfounded in accordance with the said directive will be returned back to Turkey. Turkey and Greece helped by EU institutions and agencies, will take the necessary steps and agree any necessary bilateral arrangements including the presence of Turkish officials on Greek islands and Greek officials in Turkey as from 20 March 2016 which is to ensure relationship and thereby facilitate the smooth functioning of these arrangements. The costs of the return operations of irregular migrants will be fully covered by the EU.
Next for every Syrian being returned to Turkey from Greek islands, another Syrian will be resettled from Turkey to the EU taking into account the UN Vulnerability Criteria. A mechanism will be established to ensure that this principle will be implemented as from the same day the returns start with the assistance of the Commission, EU agencies and other Member States and UNHCR. Migrants who before this haven’t entered or tried to enter the EU irregularly will be given the priority. A resettlement under this mechanism will take place on the side of EU and the commitments was taken by Member States in the conclusions of Representatives of the Governments of Member States meeting within the Council on 20 July 2015, of which 18.000 places for resettlement remain. Further need for resettlement will be carried out through a similar voluntary arrangement up to a limit of an additional 54.000 persons. The Members of the European Council welcome the Commission's intention which is to propose an amendment to the relocation decision of 22 September 2015. This allow for any resettlement commitment undertaken in the framework of this arrangement to be offset from non-allocated places under the decision.
Moreover, the fulfilment of the visa liberalisation roadmap will be a very quick action to all participating Member States with a view to lifting the visa requirements for Turkish citizens at the latest by the end of June 2016. A necessary steps will be taken by Turkey to fully finished the remaining requirements. This steps actually to allow to make the commission, follow the required assessment of compliance with the benchmarks and an appropriate proposal on the basis of which the European Parliament and the Council can make a final decision by the end of April.
Then, before the end of March EU and Turkey further the speed up and ensure funding of further projects for persons under temporary protection identified with swift input from Turkey and the disbursement of the initially allocated 3 billion euros under the Facility for Refugees in Turkey. First list of concrete projects especially for the refugees particularly in the field of health, education, infrastructure, food and other living costs that can be quick financed from the Facility and jointly identified within a week. The EU will mobilise the additional fundingfor the facility once these resources are about to be used to the full and provided the above commitments are met.
Plus, the EU and Turkey welcomed the ongoing work on the upgrading of the Customs Union. Both two of them reconfirmed their commitment to re-energise the accession process as set out in their joint statement of 29 November 2015. On 14 December 2015, they welcomed the opening of Chapter 17 which is about the economic and monetary policy at the the 11th meeting of the accession conference at ministerial level. Then, they decided to open Chapter 33 which is directly about Financial and budgetary provisions which covers the rules concerning the financial resources necessary for the funding of the EU budget. The opening of other Chapters will continue prepared at an accelerated pace without prejudice towards Member States positions in according with the existing rules.
Lastly, The EU and its Member States will cooperate with Turkey to improve humanitarian conditions towards Syria in certain areas near the Turkish border which would allow for the local population and refugees to live in areas which will be more safe.