EU Expects Turkey to Take Final Decision on Implementing Migrant Readmission Deal

Turkish PM Ahmet Davutoglu (L), European Council President Donald Tusk (C), and European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker (R) during a news conference at the end of a EU-Turkey summit in Brussels, 8 March 2016. Photo EPA/BGNES

The European Commission expects Turkey to take a final decision on the implementation of its agreement with the EU for the readmission of irregular migrants, Bulgarian public broadcaster BNR reported on Tuesday.

Commission spokeswoman Natasha Bertaud has told BNR that the refusal of Turkey to take back irregular migrants from Bulgaria will be additionally discussed with the Bulgarian authorities.

In the case of Bulgaria, there is a bilateral agreement on readmission between Sofia and Ankara which is in force, Bertaud has added.

Bulgaria’s Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov said in Luxembourg on Monday that Turkey had failed to fulfil its obligations under its agreement with the EU on readmission of third-country nationals.

The EU-Turkey readmission agreement had to enter into force on June 1. It is part of the March 18 deal between the EU and Turkey to stem the flow of irregular migrants into Europe from the Turkish territory.

The European Commission spokeswoman has also told BNR that all conditions for the implementation of readmission agreement with the EU are already in place and now it’s up to Turkey’s government to decide on the implementation of the agreement.

 

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