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The European Union (EU) and its member states remain determined to effectively protect the union's external borders, interior ministers of the member countries said after a meeting yesterday (March 4).
The emergency meeting was held in response to Turkey's move loosen border controls to facilitate refugees' crossings into Europe.
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"Illegal crossings will not be tolerated. In this regard, the EU and its member states will take all necessary measures, in accordance with EU and international law," said a joint statement after the talks. "Migrants should not be encouraged to endanger their lives by attempting illegal crossings by land or sea."
The ministers called on Turkey to "relay this message and counter the dissemination of false information."
They also denounced "Turkey's use of migratory pressure for political purposes," while acknowledging "the increased migratory burden and risks Turkey is facing."
Thousands of refugees have been moving towards border and coastal regions to try to cross the borders since Turkey announced on February 28 that it will no longer stop refugees.
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Turkey hosts about 5.7 million refugees, according to a 2019 report by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs. The Interior Ministry states the number of registered Syrian refugees is 3.6 million.
The EU and Turkey signed a deal in 2016 to help refugees and stem further migrant waves. With the agreement, Brussels agreed to allocate six billion Euro for refugee aid and Turkey promised to stop the migration flow to Europe.
In the aftermath of an airstrike against its troops in Syria's Idlib on February 27, Ankara decided to not implement the agreement and announced on March 1 that it started the "Operation Spring Shield" into northwestern Syria. (TP/VK)
