Leslie Massey
The EU-Turkey deal, signed in March 2016, was aimed at reducing the flow of illegal migrants into the European Union. Turkey agreed to take measures to stop people from travelling irregularly from Turkey to Greece, in exchange for financial aid and the promise of visa-free travel for its citizens to the EU. However, the deal has been controversial, with some European countries criticising Turkey's human rights record and its crackdown on opposition figures. Austria, in particular, has been a vocal opponent of Turkey's EU membership bid, citing human rights violations and the country's path toward autocratic rule as reasons for blocking its accession. With rising migrant numbers and a potential collapse of the deal, Austria and its Balkan neighbours have discussed preparing for a potential surge in illegal migration, which could play into the hands of populist parties in the region.
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What You'll Learn
Austria's opposition to Turkey's EU membership
Austria has been at the forefront of blocking Turkey's accession to the European Union, with Austrian politicians and parties, particularly those on the right, adopting a hardline stance on Turkish EU membership.
Additionally, Austria has a significant Turkish population, with approximately 250,000 Turks living in the country, which may influence domestic political considerations. The Freedom Party of Austria, for example, has been vocal in its opposition to Turkish EU membership and has accused Turkey of discrimination and racism.
Austria's stance on Turkish EU membership has had consequences for its relations with Turkey and other EU countries. Turkey has accused Austria of dishonesty and warned that its approach could lead to a loss of friendship between the two countries. Meanwhile, Austria's attempts to halt membership talks with Turkey have been rejected by other EU ministers, who are anxious to maintain cooperation with Turkey to manage the flow of refugees into Europe.
Despite opposition from Austria and some public support for its position, Turkey remains an EU candidate, and its membership bid continues to be a subject of discussion and negotiation between the two entities.
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The impact of the deal on asylum seekers in Greece
The EU-Turkey deal, signed in March 2016, has had a significant impact on asylum seekers in Greece. The deal aimed to restrict the flow of migrants into the European Union, with Turkey agreeing to take any measures necessary to stop people from travelling irregularly from Turkey to the Greek islands. This has led to a reduction in the number of people making the dangerous journey to Greece.
However, the deal has also caused immense suffering for those seeking asylum in Greece. Under the deal, anyone who arrives irregularly from Turkey can be returned there, with the assumption that Turkey is a safe country for them. This presumption of safety has resulted in asylum applications not being examined on an individual basis, considering the risks faced by the applicants in their country of origin. Only if Turkey is proven unsafe are these applications deemed 'admissible' and examined by Greece. This has led to a sharp increase in rejections, with a 126% rise in applications being deemed 'inadmissible' in 2021 compared to 2020.
The impact of the deal is further compounded by the fact that Greece has acknowledged that Turkey is not a safe country to return refugees and asylum seekers. As a result, only a negligible number of people have been returned from Greece to Turkey under the deal. Additionally, Turkey has refused to receive refugees from Greece since March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and there have been no mass returns.
The deal has also had broader implications for asylum seekers in Greece. It has led to a crackdown on opposition figures and concerns about human rights violations in Turkey, which have strained relations between the EU and Turkey. Austria, in particular, has been vocal in its opposition to Turkish accession to the EU, citing human rights violations and the country's path toward autocratic rule. These tensions have created uncertainty and instability for asylum seekers, with the potential collapse of the deal looming.
Overall, while the EU-Turkey deal may have reduced the number of asylum seekers arriving in Greece, it has come at a significant cost. The deal has caused suffering and uncertainty for those seeking protection, with their asylum applications not being properly examined and the constant threat of being returned to a country that may not be safe. The impact of the deal highlights the complex and challenging nature of managing asylum seeker and refugee flows in the region.
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Austria's concerns about a new wave of Muslim immigrants
Secondly, there are security concerns, with immigrants, especially Muslim migrants, viewed as a security risk for the local population, particularly women. This perception is partly driven by anti-terrorism measures and the compromise of religious liberties, which has restricted the practice of Islam in public spaces. However, it's important to note that these restrictions are not unique to Austria and are part of a broader trend across Europe.
Thirdly, immigration is seen as a threat to Austrian identity and culture, with the Muslim community's size viewed as already too large by some. This concern is not specific to Islam, as one interviewee mentioned that an influx of Chinese immigrants would also be opposed. The rise of the Freedom Party (FPÖ) and its explicitly anti-Muslim stance since 2005 have contributed to these sentiments, with other mainstream parties adopting similar rhetoric on sociocultural issues.
The Austrian government's marginalization of Muslims, cutbacks in welfare and education spending for immigrants, and lack of focus on integration efforts further contribute to these concerns. As a result, Muslim immigrants face discrimination and alienation, which can lead to radicalization. Additionally, Austria's history of immigration, particularly from Turkey and Yugoslavia in the 1960s, has shaped the current situation, with Turkish citizens in Austria supporting the increasingly authoritarian and undemocratic Turkish government.
In conclusion, Austria's concerns about a new wave of Muslim immigrants are complex and driven by economic, security, cultural, and identity-related factors. While some of these concerns may be valid, others are based on misconceptions or fear-mongering. The Austrian government's response to these concerns, including its position on the EU-Turkey deal, has significant implications for the country's relationship with the EU and the integration of Muslim immigrants into Austrian society.
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Turkey's threat to walk away from the deal
In 2016, the EU and Turkey reached an agreement to stem the flow of irregular migration from Turkey to Europe. The deal, known as the EU-Turkey Statement, was aimed at reducing the number of asylum seekers and migrants entering Europe through Turkey. Under the agreement, Turkey agreed to take back all irregular migrants intercepted in its waters or arriving on Greek islands, and to prevent new migration routes from opening. In exchange, the EU promised to accelerate talks on Turkey's accession to the EU, provide financial aid, and grant visa-free travel for Turkish citizens to the EU.
However, the deal has been controversial and criticised by human rights advocates and humanitarian organisations. There have been concerns about the treatment of migrants and asylum seekers, with reports of immeasurable suffering in Greece due to the deal. The agreement has also been a source of tension between the EU and Turkey, with Turkey threatening to walk away from the deal if its demands for visa-free travel are not met.
In 2020, tensions rose when Ankara threatened to let hundreds of thousands of migrants into Greece before eventually backing down. This incident highlighted the fragile nature of the agreement and the potential consequences of its collapse. While the EU-Turkey deal has faced challenges and criticism, it has also been credited with reducing the number of migrant arrivals and reshaping Europe's strategy of externalising migration management.
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Austria's desire to end talks with Turkey
In recent times, Austria has expressed concerns about what it perceives as significant violations of fundamental human rights in Turkey. Austrian Vice-Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache, from the right-wing Austrian Freedom Party (AFS), has been vocal about Austria's opposition to Turkey's EU accession. Strache has stated that Turkey, considering its policies and actions in recent years, has no place in the EU. He further emphasized that Austria identifies as European and wants to remain a part of the EU, excluding Turkey.
Additionally, migration policies have been a significant point of contention between the two countries. In 2016, the EU and Turkey agreed on a deal to address the migration crisis, where Turkey would prevent illegal migrants from crossing into Greece in exchange for financial aid and accelerated EU membership talks. However, Austria and other Balkan states have expressed fears that the collapse of this deal could lead to another surge of migrants, playing into the hands of populist parties. Despite this, Austria remains critical of Turkey's accession talks, citing concerns over Turkish policies and a desire to maintain the EU's standards and values.
Austria's stance on ending talks with Turkey has been a point of contention within the EU as well. While Austria has failed to halt the membership talks formally, it has influenced the EU's position. The EU has warned that negotiations would come to an automatic end if Turkey reinstates the death penalty, which has been under consideration. The complex dynamics between Austria, Turkey, and the EU continue to shape the relationship between these entities, with migration, human rights, and historical tensions playing a significant role in Austria's desire to end Turkey's EU accession talks.
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Frequently asked questions
The EU-Turkey deal is the term used to describe the statement of cooperation between EU states and the Turkish Government, which was signed in March 2016. As part of the deal, Turkey agreed to take measures to stop people from travelling from Turkey to the Greek islands. In exchange, Turkey would receive financial aid and Turkish nationals would be granted visa-free travel to Europe.
Austria has been a vocal opponent of Turkey's accession to the European Union. Austrian officials have cited concerns about human rights violations, democratic freedoms, and the rule of law in Turkey. Austria has called for a halt to Turkey's EU membership talks and has threatened to block the adoption of any conclusions on Turkey's membership bid.
The EU-Turkey deal has significantly reduced the number of people risking the dangerous journey to Greece. However, the deal has also resulted in a negligible number of people being returned to Turkey from Greece, as Greek courts have often acknowledged that Turkey is not a safe country for refugees.
Turkey's accession talks have been stalled due to a number of domestic and external problems, including concerns over human rights violations, democratic backsliding, and the crackdown on opposition figures following a failed coup attempt in July 2016. In 2016, the European Parliament voted to suspend membership negotiations, and Austria has led the charge in opposing Turkey's EU membership within the EU.
