March, 18 2016, 02:45pm EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Attila Kulcsar | London | attila.kulcsar@oxfaminternational.org | +447471142974
EU and Turkey Deal Trades Human Beings for Political Concessions
EU leaders today are set to strike a deal with Turkey that will see all people entering Greece irregularly via the Aegean Sea returned to Turkey. In exchange, the EU will resettle one Syrian refugee for each one returned.
Oxfam's migration policy lead, Sara Tesorieri, said: "EU and Turkish leaders today made an agreement on the migration crisis that not only fails to respect the spirit of international and EU laws, but may amount to trading human beings for political concessions.
LONDON
EU leaders today are set to strike a deal with Turkey that will see all people entering Greece irregularly via the Aegean Sea returned to Turkey. In exchange, the EU will resettle one Syrian refugee for each one returned.
Oxfam's migration policy lead, Sara Tesorieri, said: "EU and Turkish leaders today made an agreement on the migration crisis that not only fails to respect the spirit of international and EU laws, but may amount to trading human beings for political concessions.
"Last week's EU decision to 'end' the Balkans route has led to another humanitarian emergency, and taking this approach with the Turkey-Greece route is a further step down this path of inhumanity. The cost of European border control cannot continue to be paid with human lives.
"Oxfam fights for people who want to lead dignified safe and healthy lives and so calls on the EU to adopt effective solutions for managing migration, including safe and legal routes for those seeking to enter the bloc. EU member states need to do their fair share to resettle people in need of international protection. There can be no cap on this fundamental responsibility."
Oxfam International is a global movement of people who are fighting inequality to end poverty and injustice. We are working across regions in about 70 countries, with thousands of partners, and allies, supporting communities to build better lives for themselves, grow resilience and protect lives and livelihoods also in times of crisis.
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