Daily Report
Arrivals and Departures
The first two weeks of April were marked by events related to the implementation of the EU-Turkey agreement. Under the agreement, the first 202 people were returned by Greek authorities on Monday (4 April) on boats bound for Turkey from the islands of Lesvos and Chios;. On 8 April, according to the Greek Ministry of Citizens’ Protection, 124 people were returned from Greece to Turkey, (111 people from Pakistan, 2 from Bangladesh, 4 from Iraq, 4 Indian nationals, 1 Moroccan national, 1 Egyptian national and 1 person of Palestinian origin). It is to be noted that on April 7, the Turkish Parliament passed a readmission agreement with Pakistan. The bill now awaits endorsement by the Turkish President for publication as law. The measure has been in the making for over 5 years and will allow Turkey to return Pakistanis with greater administrative ease.
Turkish EU Affairs Minister, Volkan Bozkir said on Thursday, 14 April, that authorities expect the next returns of some 250 persons from Greece to Turkey to take place within a "few days”. He added that this next group of people will contain “more Syrians than Pakistanis and Afghanis", referring to the main nationalities of last week’s returns.
Critical Developments
The first two weeks of April were also marked by events related to legislative changes which may have implications on refugees and asylum seekers.
In Greece, on 3 April, a new law entered into force and was officially published in the Government Gazette. The law highlights the creation of the Reception and Identification Service, restructuring of the Asylum Service, the creation of an Appeals’ Authority, the creation of new Regional Asylum Offices, and the introduction of the possibility to grant humanitarian status to asylum-seekers with long-pending appeals. No mandatory declaration of Turkey as a safe-third country has been included.
On 6 April, the European Commission published a communication on reforms to the Common European Asylum System (CEAS), including two possible options for the future of the Dublin regulation, and on improving legal pathways to Europe. The Communications set out possible legislative changes in the coming months.
On 4 April, in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the Law on Asylum and Temporary Protection was amended at a Parliamentary session and was printed in the Official Gazette on 12 April. Amendments introduce two restrictions of concern to UNHCR: the first being family reunification which states that a refugee can exercise the right to family reunification only three years after asylum was granted; and the second regarding the broadening of the safe third country concept with the specification that an asylum claim submitted by a person who seeks to enter or has irregularly entered the territory of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia from a safe EU Member State, a NATO member country, or a country which is a member of EFTA is considered to be manifestly unfounded.
On 7 April, the Turkish government made an amendment to the Temporary Protection Regulation on access to Temporary Protection regarding Syrian nationals, who irregularly travel to Europe and are returned to Turkey from Greek islands.
On 12 April, in Austria, UNHCR issued a press release to express concern regarding the intended amendment of the Asylum Act. The draft law foresees limited access for asylum- seekers to the asylum procedure. The majority of those seeking international protection could, on the basis of this legislation, be rejected at the border in a fast-track procedure and be returned to Austria’s neighbouring countries unless having close family ties in Austria. UNHCR called for joint European solutions rather than unilateral measures. Furthermore, access to the territory and fair asylum procedures for all asylum- seekers, the respect for legal minimum standards, and special treatment for children and particularly vulnerable people were urged. UNHCR appeals to the Austrian Federal government to reconsider the proposed amendment and adopt measures in line with international and European refugee law.
On 13 April, media reports state that Turkey is seeking readmission agreements with several countries, including Iraq and Iran, for the purpose of returning individuals re-admitted from the EU and not in need of international protection. Turkey is reportedly seeking readmission agreements with Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Eritrea, Morocco, Ghana, Myanmar, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, Sudan, and Tunisia. At the moment, Turkey has readmission agreements with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belarus, Greece, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Montenegro, Moldova, Nigeria, Pakistan, Romania, Russia, the Syrian Arab Republic, Ukraine, and Yemen.
On 13 April, the European Commission reported the unsatisfactory progress made by EU Member States on relocation and urged them to urgently deliver on their commitments. On resettlement, better progress was reported attributed to the EU-Turkey agreement.
The same day, in Germany, the coalition government set out details for an envisaged integration law; leaders of the Social Democrats (SPD), Christian Democrats (CDU), and their Bavarian party, CSU, agreed on key issues to be included in a draft which will be decided upon during a government retreat on 24 May. The draft law sets out that asylum seekers’ refusal of integration measures would lead to reduced social benefits. Consequences would also occur if people violate obligations regarding their residency. Moreover, 100,000 so-called “1- Euro jobs” for asylum-seekers shall facilitate access to the labour market and a “priority review” regulation that prioritized German nationals and nationals of other EU countries over asylum seekers in job applications shall be suspended for three years.