Estonian government supports EU-Turkey refugee deal
The government announced on Tuesday that it had approved Estonia's position on the EU-Turkey refugee deal. The country will support the agreement at the European Council meeting on Mar. 17-18.
The agreement would see Turkey readmitting illegal immigrants that have already travelled on to EU territory, and provide additional funding for the €3bn refugee facility agreed on earlier. Beyond helping Turkey deal with their end of the migration crisis, the agreement also includes speeding up negotiations towards visa-free travel of Turkish citizens to the EU.
While supporters of the agreement see it as a new chapter in the EU’s relations with Turkey, those opposed to it call it a violation of the EU’s basic principles, as refugees currently in the EU that reached it coming in from Turkey could be sent back without so much as an assessment of their status, and would lack anything from basic necessities to a guarantee of their safety.
Editor: Editor: Dario Cavegn