The agreement between the European Union (EU) and Turkey to tackle the migrant crisis has formally come into effect. Under the plan, migrants arriving in Greece will be sent back to Turkey if their asylum claim is rejected.
According to it, thousands of migrants from Syria and elsewhere will be sent to Ankara, in exchange for financial aid and political concessions to it. The deal ensures Turkey, which houses nearly 3 million Syrian refugees, to get financial aid, quicker EU membership talks and visa-free travel for its citizens.
EU leaders welcomed the agreement but German Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned of legal challenges to come. Some EU members expressed disquiet over Turkey’s human rights record. However, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu termed it as a historic deal.
Since January last year, a million migrants and refugees have entered the EU by boat from Turkey to Greece. More than 132,000 have arrived this year alone. Tens of thousands are now stuck in Greece as their route north has been blocked.