28 Nisan 2016 Perşembe günü Hatay’da Avrupa Birliği Bakanlığı tarafından Avrupa Birliği Bakanı ve Başmüzakereci Büyükelçi Volkan Bozkır’ın katılımıyla sivil toplum kuruluşları, yerel yönetimler, iş dünyası kuruluşları ve üniversitelerden yaklaşık 1500 temsilcinin hazır bulunduğu “Türkiye’nin AB’ye Üyelik Süreci” konulu Sivil Toplumla Diyalog Toplantısı düzenlendi.
PRESS RELEASE
144/16
18/03/2016
EU-Turkey statement, 18 March 2016
Today the Members of the European Council met with their Turkish counterpart. This was the third meeting since November 2015 dedicated to deepening Turkey-EU relations as well as addressing the migration crisis.The Members of the European Council expressed their deepest condolences to the people of Turkey following the bomb attack in Ankara on Sunday. They strongly condemned this heinous act and reiterated their continued support to fight terrorism in all its forms.
Turkey and the European Union reconfirmed their commitment to the implementation of their joint action plan activated on 29 November 2015. Much progress has been achieved already, including Turkey’s opening of its labour market to Syrians under temporary protection, the introduction of new visa requirements for Syrians and other nationalities, stepped up security efforts by the Turkish coast guard and police and enhanced information sharing. Moreover, the European Union has begun disbursing the 3 billion euro of the Facility for Refugees in Turkey for concrete projects and work has advanced on visa liberalisation and in the accession talks, including the opening of Chapter 17 last December.
On 7 March 2016, Turkey furthermore agreed to accept the rapid return of all migrants not in need of international protection crossing from Turkey into Greece and to take back all irregular migrants intercepted in Turkish waters. Turkey and the EU also agreed to continue stepping up measures against migrant smugglers and welcomed the establishment of the NATO activity on the Aegean Sea. At the same time Turkey and the EU recognise that further, swift and determined efforts are needed. In order to break the business model of the smugglers and to offer migrants an alternative to putting their lives at risk, the EU and Turkey today decided to end the irregular migration from Turkey to the EU. In order to achieve this goal, they agreed on the following additional action points:
1) All new irregular migrants crossing from Turkey into Greek islands as from 20 March 2016 will be returned to Turkey. This will take place in full accordance with EU and international law, thus excluding any kind of collective expulsion. All migrants will be protected in accordance with the relevant international standards and in respect of the principle of non-refoulement. It will be a temporary and extraordinary measure which is necessary to end the human suffering and restore public order. Migrants arriving in the Greek islands will be duly registered and any application for asylum will be processed individually by the Greek authorities in accordance with the Asylum Procedures Directive, in cooperation with UNHCR. Migrants not applying for asylum or whose application has been found unfounded or inadmissible in accordance with the said directive will be returned to Turkey. Turkey and Greece, assisted by EU institutions and agencies, will take the necessary steps and agree any necessary bilateral arrangements, including the presence of Turkish officials on Greek islands and Greek officials in Turkey as from 20 March 2016, to ensure liaison and thereby facilitate the smooth functioning of these arrangements. The costs of the return operations of irregular migrants will be covered by the EU.
2) For every Syrian being returned to Turkey from Greek islands, another Syrian will be resettled from Turkey to the EU taking into account the UN Vulnerability Criteria. A mechanism will be established, with the assistance of the Commission, EU agencies and other Member States, as well as the UNHCR, to ensure that this principle will be implemented as from the same day the returns start. Priority will be given to migrants who have not previously entered or tried to enter the EU irregularly. On the EU side, resettlement under this mechanism will take place, in the first instance, by honouring the commitments taken by Member States in the conclusions of Representatives of the Governments of Member States meeting within the Council on 20 July 2015, of which 18.000 places for resettlement remain. Any further need for resettlement will be carried out through a similar voluntary arrangement up to a limit of an additional 54.000 persons. The Members of the European Council welcome the Commission’s intention to propose an amendment to the relocation decision of 22 September 2015 to allow for any resettlement commitment undertaken in the framework of this arrangement to be offset from non-allocated places under the decision. Should these arrangements not meet the objective of ending the irregular migration and the number of returns come close to the numbers provided for above, this mechanism will be reviewed. Should the number of returns exceed the numbers provided for above, this mechanism will be discontinued.
3) Turkey will take any necessary measures to prevent new sea or land routes for illegal migration opening from Turkey to the EU, and will cooperate with neighbouring states as well as the EU to this effect.
4) Once irregular crossings between Turkey and the EU are ending or at least have been substantially and sustainably reduced, a Voluntary Humanitarian Admission Scheme will be activated. EU Member States will contribute on a voluntary basis to this scheme.
5) The fulfilment of the visa liberalisation roadmap will be accelerated vis-à-vis all participating Member States with a view to lifting the visa requirements for Turkish citizens at the latest by the end of June 2016, provided that all benchmarks have been met. To this end Turkey will take the necessary steps to fulfil the remaining requirements to allow the Commission to make, following the required assessment of compliance with the benchmarks, an appropriate proposal by the end of April on the basis of which the European Parliament and the Council can make a final decision.
6) The EU, in close cooperation with Turkey, will further speed up the disbursement of the initially allocated 3 billion euros under the Facility for Refugees in Turkey and ensure funding of further projects for persons under temporary protection identified with swift input from Turkey before the end of March. A first list of concrete projects for refugees, notably in the field of health, education, infrastructure, food and other living costs, that can be swiftly financed from the Facility, will be jointly identified within a week. Once these resources are about to be used to the full, and provided the above commitments are met, the EU will mobilise additional funding for the Facility of an additional 3 billion euro up to the end of 2018.
7) The EU and Turkey welcomed the ongoing work on the upgrading of the Customs Union.
8) The EU and Turkey reconfirmed their commitment to re-energise the accession process as set out in their joint statement of 29 November 2015. They welcomed the opening of Chapter 17 on 14 December 2015 and decided, as a next step, to open
Chapter 33 during the Netherlands presidency. They welcomed that the Commission will put forward a proposal to this effect in April. Preparatory work for the opening of other Chapters will continue at an accelerated pace without prejudice to Member States’ positions in accordance with the existing rules.
9) The EU and its Member States will work with Turkey in any joint endeavour to improve humanitarian conditions inside Syria, in particular in certain areas near the Turkish border which would allow for the local population and refugees to live in areas which will be more safe.
All these elements will be taken forward in parallel and monitored jointly on a monthly basis.
The EU and Turkey decided to meet again as necessary in accordance with the joint statement of 29 November 2015.
Source: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2016/03/18-eu-turkey-statement/
1. Following their meeting with Prime Minister Davutoğlu, the EU Heads of State or Government addressed the migration situation, in particular as regards the Western Balkans route. They welcomed their discussion with the Turkish Prime Minister on EU-Turkey relations and on the progress made in the implementation of the Joint Action Plan. Turkey confirmed its commitment in implementing the bilateral Greek-Turkish readmission agreement to accept the rapid return of all migrants not in need of international protection crossing from Turkey into Greece and to take back all irregular migrants apprehended on Turkish waters.
The Heads of State or Government agreed that bold moves were needed to close down people smuggling routes, to break the business model of the smugglers, to protect our external borders and to end the migration crisis in Europe. We need to break the link between getting in a boat and getting settlement in Europe.
That is why they underlined the importance of the NATO activity in the Aegean Sea that became operational today. They called on all members of NATO to support it actively. They warmly welcomed the additional proposals made today by Turkey to address the migration issue. They agreed to work on the basis of the principles they contain:
- to return all new irregular migrants crossing from Turkey into the Greek islands with the costs covered by the EU;
- to resettle, for every Syrian readmitted by Turkey from Greek islands, another Syrian from Turkey to the EU Member States, within the framework of the existing commitments;
- to accelerate the implementation of the visa liberalization roadmap with all Member States with a view to lifting the visa requirements for Turkish citizens at the latest by the end of June 2016;
- to speed up the disbursement of the initially allocated 3 billion euros to ensure funding of a first set of projects before the end of March and decide on additional funding for the Refugee Facility for Syrians;
- to prepare for the decision on the opening of new chapters in the accession negotiations as soon as possible, building on the October 2015 European Council conclusions;
- to work with Turkey in any joint endeavour to improve humanitarian conditions inside Syria which would allow for the local population and refugees to live in areas which will be more safe.
The President of the European Council will take forward these proposals and work out the details with the Turkish side before the March European Council. This work will respect European and international law.
The EU Heads of State or Government also discussed with the Turkish Prime Minister the situation of the media in Turkey.
2. Heads of State or Government further recalled that the European Council, at its meeting on 18-19 February, decided to get back to a situation where all Members of the Schengen area fully apply the Schengen Borders Code, while taking into account the specificities of the maritime borders, and to end the wave-through approach. Irregular flows of migrants along the Western Balkans route have now come to an end.
3. In order to make this sustainable, action is required along the following lines:
a) stand by Greece, in this difficult moment and do our utmost to help manage the situation that has arisen as a consequence of this development. This is a collective EU responsibility requiring fast and efficient mobilisation of all available EU means and resources and of Member States’ contributions;
b) provide an immediate and effective response to the very difficult humanitarian situation which is rapidly developing on the ground. Emergency support will be provided urgently by the Commission, in close cooperation with Greece, other Member States and non-governmental organisations on the basis of an assessment, by the Commission and Greece, of the needs and a contingency and response plan. In this context, Heads of State or Government welcome the Commission proposal on the provision of emergency support within the EU and call on the Council to adopt it before the March European Council, thus expanding the range of financial instruments that can be used; they invite the budgetary authority to take any necessary follow-up measures;
c) provide further assistance to Greece in managing the external borders, including those with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Albania, and ensuring the proper functioning of hotspots, with 100% identification, registration and security checks, and the provision of sufficient reception capacities. Frontex will launch an additional call for national guest officers as soon as possible and all Member States should respond in full by 1 April at the latest. Europol will rapidly deploy guest officers in all hotspots to reinforce security checks and support the Greek authorities in the fight against smugglers;
d) assist Greece in ensuring comprehensive, large scale and fast-track returns to Turkey of all irregular migrants not in need of international protection, building on the Greece-Turkey readmission agreement and, from 1 June, the EU-Turkey readmission agreement;
e) accelerate substantially the implementation of relocation to alleviate the heavy burden that presently weighs on Greece. EASO will launch a further call for national expertise to support the Greek asylum system and all Member States should respond rapidly and in full. Member States are also invited to provide more places for relocation as a matter of urgency. The Commission will report on a monthly basis to the Council on the implementation of relocation commitments;
f) continue to cooperate closely with the non-EU countries of the Western Balkans and provide any necessary assistance;
g) implement the existing resettlement commitments and continue work on a credible voluntary humanitarian admission programme with Turkey;
h) take any necessary measures immediately in respect of any new routes opening up, and step up the fight against smugglers;
i) take forward, as a matter of priority, all the elements of the Commission roadmap on getting “back to Schengen”, so as to end temporary internal border controls and re-establish the normal functioning of the Schengen area before the end of the year.
This document does not establish any new commitments on Member States as far as relocation and resettlement is concerned.
Bu cumartesi sabahı İngiltere Başbakanı Cameron kabinesini 10 Downing Street’te toplayarak Brüksel’de AB konseyi üyeleriyle yaptığı görüşmelerin olumlu geçtiğini, ve refromları uygulayan bir AB içinde kalmanın uygun olacağını anlattı. Kabine referandum’un 23 Haziran’da yapılmasına karar verdi. Ayrıca kabine üyelerinin seçim gününe kadar yapılacak propaganda çalışmalarında AB de kalma veya çıkma konusunda serbest kalabilecekleri ifade edildi. Kabine üyelerinden Michael Gove (Adalet Bakanı), Theresa Villiers (Kuzey Irlanda İşlerine bakan), Ian Duncan Smith (Çalışma ve Emeklilik Fonları Bakanı), John Wittingdale (Kültür Bakanı) ve Chris Grayling’in ( Avam kamarası başkanı) AB’ ye hayır tezini destekleyeceklerini söylediler. 
Dünya Ticaret Örgütü’nün eski başkanı ve Jacques Delors Enstitü’sünün emeritüs başkanı Pascal Lamy, İstanbul Sanayi Odasının 13 Şubat 2016 ‘da düzenlediği toplantının ana konuşmacısıydı.
Lamy konuşmasına ticareti engelleyen uygulamaları açıklamakla başladı . Ticarete konu olan malların karşı karşıya kaldıkları maliyetin % 5 inin gümrük tarifelerinden (ortalama gümrük oranları göz önünde tutulduğunda) , %10 ‘unun sınırları geçerken karşılaşılan maliyetlerden ,- %20 sinin ise çeşitli standardlara ve uygulanan ticareti düzenleyici kurallara uyum zorluğundan kaynaklandığını ifade etti. Ticaretin geliştirilmesi için yürütülen çalışmaların bu standalara, kurallara uyum konularınna yönelmeleri gerektiğini belirttikten sonra bugünün yeni ticaret dünyasında nelerin amaçlandığına geçti.
Transatlantik Ticaret ve Yatırım Ortaklığı’nın (TTIP’nin) bilinen geleneksel ticaret ve yatırım anlaşmalarından çok farklı, çok daha kapsamlı, çok daha boyutlu olduğunu ifade etti. Avrupa Birliği’nin (AB’nin) mallarının %80’ inini, hizmetlerinin %20 sini liberalleştirilmesini ancak 30 yılda gerçekleştirebildiğini hatırlarsak, .TTIP’nin hedeflerine ulaşılmasının zaman alacağını kaçınılmazlığı üzerinde durdu.
Bu yeni ticaret dünyasının düzenini artık korumacı olarak nitelendirilemeyeceğini, “korumacılığın” yerini “önlemciliğe” bıraktığını ifade etti. Eski ticaret dünyasında uygulanan ticaret politikaları üreticileri korumaya yönelik iken, bugünün yeni düzeninde hedef tüketicileri korumaktır. Tüketici sağlığını, güvenliğini, işçilerin haklarını, hayvanların korunmasını ve çevrenin korunmasını hedef alan yeni standard ve kurallar geliştirilmiştir. Bugün tüketilen gıda mallarının, ürünlerin içindeki maksimum pesitsit kalıntıları gibi standardların değiştirilmesi mümkün değildir ve bu kurallara uyan herkes gelişmiş pazarlara ve bu standartları uygulayan diğer ülkelere ürünlerini satabilecektir.
Lamy TTIP ile ilgili müzakerelerin %80 inin tüketiciyi koruma standartlarının uyumlu kılmasıyla ilgili olduğunu ve geri kalan %20 sinin ise geleneksel ticaretin konusuna giren gümrük tarifeleri ve pazara giriş şartları ve yolları ile ilgili olduğunu söyledi. TTIP ile bir gerçek transatlantik tek pazar kurulduğunda, bu pazar dünya gayrı safi hasılasının %40 ını ve dünya ticaretinin ve yatırımlarının büyük bir bölümünü kapasayacaktır.
Lamy, gidilecek yolun zor olduğunu belirtmeyi ihmal etmemiştir. Siyasi liderlerin TTIP’yi yeterli biçimde açıklamamış olmaları, görüşmelerin yeterince şeffaf olmaması, TTIP karşıtı hareketlerin gelişmesine yol açmıştır. Bu iddialı planın 850 milyon tüketiciyi kapsayacağını ve dünyanın en büyük serbest ticaret bölgesini oluşturacağının liderlerce iyice açıklanması gerektiğini vurguladı. Bazı konuların cözümünde zorluk çekilmesinin altında ABD ve AB liler arasında kültürel farklılıklardan kaynaklandığını ve neticede bu anlaşmanın 2019 baharında önce sonuçlanamayabileceğini ifade etti.
2016 nın başından itibaren Akdeniz’de 409 kişinin hayatını kaybetmişlerdir. AB ülkelerine gidebilmek ve orada güven altında yaşamak için herşeyi göze alan bu mültecilerin durumu çok zor. Türkiye’de kalanların bir kısmı kamplarda, bir kısmı büyük şehirlere akın etmiş durumda. Istanbul’un Laleli ve Fatih semtenlerinde 300.000 e yakın Suriye’nin yerleşmiş olduğu ve bugüne kadar Arapça konuşulan 18 lokanta açtıkları söyleniyor.Şehirlerin ve Türkiye’nin bütününün nüfus yapısı değişiyor.
Bütçe komitesi üyeleri ilgili resmi mercilerle üyelik öncesinde tahsis edilen fonların kullanımı,Suriye ve Irak’tan gelen mültecilere tahsis edilen AB kaynaklarının kullanımı hakkında görüşmeler yapacak ve mülteci kamplarından birini gezecekler. Sivil hak ve hürriyetler komitesi üyeleri ise bu kampları gezecek, mülteci ve göçmenlere yardım konusunu yetkili kişiler, uluslararası sivil toplum örgütleri ve diğer ortak kuruluşlarla yerinde inceleyeceklerdir.
Bu pazartesi Davutoğlu ve Merkel Ankara’da bir araya gelerek Nato’nun Ege denizinde nöbet tutarak Rusya’nın ve Suriye hükümetinin Halep’e hucum etmeleriyle yoğunluk kazanan Suriyeli göçmen krizini hafifletmesi konusunda anlaştılar. Avrupa Komisyonu salı günü bu ikili görüşme sırasında varılan görüş birliğine destek verdi. Nato üyesi ülkelerin savunma bakanlarının dünkü ve bugünkü toplantısında hernekadar gündemde Rusya, doğu Avrupa ve savunma harcamaları bulunuyor ise de bu konu da ele alındı. Nato genel sekreteri ve ABD’nin Nato’daki büyükelçisi Douglas Lute bu yardıma olumlu bakmakla beraber tüm sorumluluğun Avrupa Komisyonu tarafında üstlenmesi gerektiğine vurgu yaptılar.
Bu salı akşamı AB’nin altı kurucu üyesi (Almanya, Belçika, Fransa, Hollanda, İtalya ve Lüksemburg) ortak bir bildiriyle birbirine sıkı sıkıya bağlı bir Avrupayı hedeflerken aynı zamanda bir ilke imza atarak bu Avrupa’nın ikili bir yapıya, entegrasyonun iki ayrı hızda gerçekleşebileceğini duyurdular. Ingiltere başbakanı David Cameron’un İngiltere’nin birbirine daha sıkı bağlı bir Avrupa politikasının dışında tutulmasını istediği bir dönemde bu ortak bildiriyle farklı hızda bir entegrasyonun mümkün olduğunu kabul edilmiş oldu.
Paris’te AB işlerinden sorumlu Devlet Sekreteri Harlem Desir ile çalışma yemeğinde görüşecek olan Bakan Bozkır ayrıca, Senato ve Millet Meclisinin Dışişleri ve AB Komisyon Başkan ve üyeleri ile biraraya gelip, Parlamenterlere hitap edecektir.
AB Bakanı ve Başmüzakereci Büyükelçi Bozkır, Paris Büyükelçimizin evsahipliği yapacağı akşam yemeğinde Fransız işadamlarıyla da biraraya gelecektir. Sözkonusu yemeğe AB işlerinden sorumlu Devlet Sekreteri Harlem Desir’in de katılımı öngörülmektedir.
AB Bakanı Bozkır, Paris’teki temaslarının ardından AB Komiserleriyle görüşmelerde bulunmak üzere Brüksel’e geçecektir. Bakan Bozkır, Bu çerçevede, Avro ve Sosyal Diyalogdan sorumlu AB Komisyonu Başkan Yardımcısı Valdis Dombrovskis ve Uluslararası İşbirliği ve Kalkınmadan sorumlu AB Komiseri Neven Mimica ile görüşecektir.
Bakan Bozkır, Brüksel’de ayrıca Avrupalı Türk Demokratlar Birliğinin (UETD) Belçika şubesinin organize edeceği toplantıda Belçika’da yaşayan vatandaşlarımızla buluşacaktır.
