Sixth report on the progress made in the implementation of the EU-Turkey Statement

During the period covered by this Sixth Report, the EU-Turkey Statement of 18 March 2016 has continued to ensure an effective management of migratory flows along the Eastern Mediterranean route, consolidating the trend described in the previous reports.

The number of irregular crossings has remained low (at 52 per day on average since the Fifth Report). Despite recent tragic incidents, the number of lives lost in the Aegean Sea has also significantly dropped.

However, challenges remain, in particular as arrivals still outpace the number of returns from the Greek islands to Turkey, putting pressure on the hotspot facilities on the islands. Rapidly increasing the efficiency of the appeal process for asylum cases and the capacity to return from the islands remains therefore a priority, also in view of any possible variation in the number of crossings with the arrival of the summer season.

Further progress is shown on all the other elements of the Statement, including a growing pace of resettlement of Syrian refugees from Turkey. The Facility for Refugees in Turkey has also continued to be implemented at a sustained pace. Out of the €3 billion for 2016-2017, the total allocated has reached €2.9 billion, and contracts have been signed for 47 projects for a total amount of €1.572 billion – all of which have started being implemented. Disbursements have reached €811 million.

At their meeting on 25 May 2017 Presidents Juncker and Tusk and President Erdoğan stressed the central importance of the EU Turkey Statement for the joint management of the migration challenge and their common determination to work for its continued successful implementation.