Press Release: Managing the Refugee Crisis: Stepping up return procedures to Turkey

For the Common European Asylum System to work, a fully functioning return policy was crucial. The return of irregular migrants who have no right to stay in the EU to their home countries or to countries they transited through, in full respect of fundamental rights and the principle of non-refoulement, was an essential part of the EU's comprehensive efforts to address migration and in particular to reduce irregular migration.

The European Commission was able on 2nd March 2016 to confirm that Greece was in the process of returning 308 irregular migrants to Turkey, as part of this policy.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background Information: Press release: Managing the Refugee Crisis: Commission reports on implementation of EU-Turkey Joint Action Plan http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-managing-the-refugee-crisis-commission-reports-on-implementation-of-eu-turkey-joint-action-plan/

ESO: Information Guide: European Migration Challenges http://www.europeansources.info/record/information-guide-european-migration-challenges/

ESO: Background Information: UNHCR warns of imminent humanitarian crisis in Greece http://www.europeansources.info/record/unhcr-warns-of-imminent-humanitarian-crisis-in-greece/

ESO: Background information: Asylum – a common space of protection and solidarity http://www.europeansources.info/showDoc?ID=1152966

---