Nine Years On: The EU-Türkiye Deal and Its Toll on People Seeking Asylum

Today marks the ninth anniversary of the EU-Türkiye agreement, which was designed to manage migration flows into Europe. Advertised by the EU as a promise to safeguard people taking on ‘irregular’ migration routes from Türkiye to the Greek islands, it is clear that the deal has instead resulted in significant harm to people on the move and asylum seekers. The EU’s human rights commitments to asylum seekers have instead been abandoned to prioritise the security and border control of EU frontiers. Putting a price on people’s lives, the EU-Türkiye deal has left thousands in limbo, forced to face dangerous and life-threatening conditions, the normalisation of pushbacks and human rights violations.

The claim to stop the flow of “irregular” migration from Türkiye to the Greek islands has only increased vulnerability for those seeking refuge, as we witness on Samos.

As an organization dedicated to supporting people seeking asylum and advocating for their rights, we stand in solidarity with those who continue to bear the consequences of this inhumane policy.

The EU-Türkiye Deal: Externalising Migration and Controlling Borders

The EU-Türkiye deal was signed on 18 March 2016 as a response to the growing migration crisis in Europe. The deal, also known as the “Statement of Cooperation”, aims to reduce the number of people seeking asylum arriving on the Greek islands by "returning" those who arrived “irregularly” from Türkiye back to Turkish soil. In exchange, the EU offered Türkiye the chance to negotiate visa-free travel into Europe and an initial financial aid of 3 billion euros to support migrants within Türkiye. Since then, this financial support has been increased to an additional 3 billion euros between 2021 and 2023.

The International Rescue Committee summarized the deal succinctly: “The message was clear: those attempting to reach Greece irregularly would be swiftly returned, while those who waited patiently in Türkiye would have the chance to enter in their place.” 

Not only does this deal signify the EU putting a price on people’s lives and freely exchanging one person for another, but it also criminalises “irregular” travel, without facilitating any additional access to potential “regular” travel that people on the move may obtain, due to systematically costly or bureaucratic obstacles.

While the deal was hailed as a temporary measure to address the immediate challenges of migration, it has continued for nine years, leaving thousands of people on the move stranded in precarious situations. Far from offering a solution, the deal has instead perpetuated a cycle of suffering for people seeking asylum, like on the island of Samos, where conditions continue to deteriorate.

The Unlawful Concept of “Safe Third Country”

A key element of the EU-Türkiye deal is the notion of a “safe third country”. This concept allows Greece to reject asylum applications from individuals who have arrived from Türkiye, on the grounds that Türkiye is considered a safe place for people seeking asylum. However, Türkiye's inability to protect asylum seekers adequately, as well as its refusal to accept asylum seekers from Greece, calls into question the legitimacy of this designation.

Türkiye has long been criticized for its treatment of people seeking asylum, who are often subjected to harsh living conditions, exploitation, and a lack of legal protections. The EU’s continued reliance on Türkiye as a “safe third country” is not only legally questionable but also morally indefensible. People seeking asylum who are sent back to Türkiye from Greece are left in a state of uncertainty, facing a future with no guarantee of safety or stability. 

The Impact on People Seeking Asylum on Samos

The EU-Türkiye deal’s failure to protect people seeking asylum is undeniably evident on the island of Samos. The Samos Closed-Controlled Access Centre (CCAC) is a prime example of how the EU-Türkiye deal has failed those in need of protection. People seeking asylum are often forced to live in overcrowded, unhygienic conditions with limited access to basic services, insufficient resources and inadequate facilities. Women and children are particularly vulnerable in these spaces, where overcrowding and lack of security exacerbate the risks of gender-based violence and exploitation. 

One of the most devastating consequences of the EU-Türkiye deal is the increase in border violence. As people on the move attempt to reach Europe, they face the threat of being pushed back at sea, denied access to asylum, or detained in unsafe conditions. The majority of residents in the Samos CCAC have reported being victim of a pushback at least once before managing to arrive to Greece to apply for asylum. Reports of boat wrecks and lives lost are a tragic reminder of the dangers people seeking asylum face in their journey, which has only been intensified by the EU-Türkiye deal’s policies. 

As reported by the Aegean Boat Report, over the last six years, the Turkish coastguard has stopped 13,000 boats, affecting a total of 420,000 people. At the same time, 3,000 boats carrying 92,000 people were pushed back from Greek islands to Turkish waters.

The Human Cost of the EU-Türkiye Deal

While political leaders may view the EU-Türkiye deal as a pragmatic solution to controlling migration, the human cost is undeniable. People on the move are not mere numbers; they are individuals fleeing war, persecution, poverty, or simply people searching to exercise their freedom of movement and human rights. The EU-Türkiye deal has turned their hopes for a better future into a prolonged nightmare.

The psychological toll on people seeking asylum is profound. The EU’s policy with Türkiye has systematically allowed for many to suffer from trauma, anxiety, and depression as they wait for a future that feels increasingly out of reach. The EU-Türkiye deal has created a system that traps asylum seekers in a cycle of precarity, where the promise of protection is replaced by bureaucratic hurdles, lengthy delays, and physical and emotional harm.

A Call for Change: Advocating for Safe Routes Now

As we mark the ninth anniversary of the EU-Türkiye deal, we call for a fundamental shift in how Europe approaches migration and asylum. We must move away from policies that prioritize border control over safety and instead focus on those that uphold human dignity, respect international law, and protect human rights. The EU-Türkiye deal must be reevaluated in light of its damaging consequences for people seeking asylum. 

Nine years ago, the EU-Türkiye deal was signed with the promise of better-managing migration flows. Yet, its impact on people seeking asylum has been nothing short of catastrophic. As we reflect on the deal's legacy, we reaffirm our commitment to advocating for the rights and dignity of people on the move. The time has come for a migration policy that puts people before politics and offers real protection, dignity, and a future for those seeking refuge.

Written by Gaia Polidori, Communications Officer

Edited by Dalia Impiglia, Communications, Fundraising and Advocacy Coordinator