Daily Report
Arrivals and Departures:
The Greek Ministry of Migration Policy announced on 13 March that 44,035 refugees were in Greece with 8,904 located on the islands and 35,131 people on the mainland. Of those, an approximate 12,000 people were located at Eidomeni, near the border crossing between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
Condition of People:
In Greece, some 1,000 refugees set off on foot towards the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, after leaflets were distributed at the Eidomeni camp site suggesting the border is closed. Carrying all their belongings, many have reportedly crossed a river. According to a police spokeswoman from the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the authorities there are taking steps to return people to Greece.
Critical Developments
As details of the proposals made on 7 March at the EU summit with Turkey are being discussed in preparation for the subsequent meeting on Thursday, diplomats said on Monday that several changes are debated. A series of events, including formal objections from at least five countries, the results of German elections, and a terrorist attack in Ankara, cast doubt on how a final agreement would be formulated. Initial proposals attracted a steady stream of harsh criticism from governments and UN agencies. Cyprus opposed any deal to move forward on EU membership for Turkey until Ankara fully respects all commitments made with Nicosia. Bulgaria required the agreement to also focus on the impact it may see at its border with Turkey; France and Spain have also raised humanitarian concerns. Spanish foreign minister José Manuel García-Margallo called the proposed agreement “unacceptable” in remarks to reporters on Monday.
Other diplomats stressed that since the deal does not include a substantial resettlement program from Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon, where the majority of Syrian refugees are, it could have little impact in offering refugees with alternatives to smuggling.
A new draft circulating on Monday included new details beyond what was agreed in principle by EU leaders last week.