Greece urges 'Plan B' in case EU-Turkey refugee deal fails
Greece urged the European Union Wednesday to draw up a contingency plan in case the Turkish government breaks its promise regarding a controversial deal with the EU to stem the influx of refugees.
Immigration Minister Ioannis Mouzalas said there must a “Plan B” to meet the concerns related to potential backtracking of Turkey on the deal it reached with the EU in March.
“We are very worried. We need a Plan B in any case,” Mouzalas said during an interview with Germany's Bild newspaper.
European governments have expressed concern that Turkey could renege on its pledges to take back all the refugees arriving on the Greek coasts as part of the deal. The EU had pledged to reward Turkey’s actions through billions of euros in funding, accelerated talks on Turkey’s membership in the EU and visa-free travel for the Turks visiting the European countries.
Turkey has warned that it will wait only until October to have the agreement on visa-free travel implemented although the EU says Ankara should first reform its controversial anti-terror law to enjoy the privilege.
The July 15 coup attempt in Turkey and the manner the Turkish government has dealt with the alleged plotters have intensified the worries about the implementation of the refugee agreement. Many in the West have criticized Turkey for its crackdown that has seen more than 60,000 people sacked, dismissed or detained.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Monday that if the visa agreement is not implemented, Ankara would withdraw from the refugee deal. His German counterpart, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, hit back by saying that the EU will not accept any blackmail and Turkey should fulfill the required conditions for the visa-free travels.
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