There is concern in Brussels that the number of refugees Greek authorities have deported to Turkey per the EU-Ankara deal is below expectations.
Specifically, after the European Union-Turkey agreement went into effect on March 20, only 386 refugees have been sent from Greece to Turkey. At the same time, 8,000 migrants have illegally crossed to the Greek islands from the Turkish shores.
According to the agreement, for every refugee Greece sends back to Turkey, the neighboring country can send one refugee directly to Europe. The purpose of the readmission deal was to stem illegal flows of migrants landing on Greek islands.
In Brussels there was hope that all migrants arriving illegally in Greece since March 20 would be sent back to Turkey within weeks. At the same time, the measure would deter refugees from crossing the Aegean by illegal means.
However, a Financial Times report says that Greece has granted asylum to about 30 percent of Syrian refugees who have applied, a number much higher than what Brussels was expecting. At the same time, there are thousands of asylum applications pending, while many who have been denied asylum have filed appeals. This would delay readmissions for months.
European partners are concerned that any further dramatic increase in summer flows will overcrowd reception centers on the Aegean islands. Currently, the five islands close to Turkey with registration centers — Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Kos, Leros — already host approximately 8,500 people, a number that exceeds capacity.
At the same time there is a spat between Turkey and Europe over the abolition of visa requirements for Turkish citizens who wish to travel to Europe. Several European states are against the visa abolition, with Ankara threatening that this would be a reason to cancel the deal.
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