Refugees in Turkey: MEPs to assess use of EU funds and cooperation with Ankara

Met dank overgenomen van Europees Parlement (EP) i, gepubliceerd op dinsdag 5 november 2019.

MEPs will assess on Wednesday the situation of Syrian refugees in Turkey and the results of the budgetary support provided by the EU i to the Turkish government.

Representatives of the European Commission will brief MEPs of the Civil Liberties, Foreign Affairs and Development committees, followed by a debate. They will focus on the EU Facility for Refugees in Turkey, set up in 2015 to help the Turkish authorities assisting refugees in their territory. It has a total budget of €6 billion, to be disbursed in 2025 at the latest.

Out of the 5.6 million Syrian refugees in the world, Turkey hosts close to 3.7 million, according to UNHCR i data.

EU-Turkey deal and the situation in Greece

Civil Liberties MEPs will also discuss the implementation of the EU-Turkey statement, the deal reached by EU leaders with the Turkish government in March 2016 to halt the flow of refugees towards the Greek islands.

First, they will hold a debate with Michalis Chrisochoidis, Greek Minister for Citizens’ Protection. They will also hear the views on the results of the deal and the situation on the Greek islands from representatives of the European Commission, the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights, the EU Asylum Support Office and Médecins sans Frontières.

When: Wednesday, 6 November, from 9.00 to 12.30

Where: European Parliament in Brussels, Paul-Henri Spaak i (PHS) building, room 3C50

You can follow the hearing live.