MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Earlier this month, Ankara and Brussels agreed to fast-track negotiations on Turkey's accession to the European Union in exchange for a new migration plan, which stipulates that Ankara takes back undocumented migrants who arrive in the bloc through its border and sends legal Syrian refugees to the European Union in return.
"The automatic forced return that the [EU-Turkey] deal allows is illegal and will be ineffective," Muiznieks wrote in The New York Times newspaper.
The EU rights chief added that the relocation of refugees from the bloc to Turkey would be contrary to the European Convention on Human Rights, which prohibits the collective expulsions of foreigners.
Muiznieks also urged EU leaders to adopt new measures shifting the bloc’s approach to the massive refugee influx, instead of finding legal ways for collective forced returns.
A final agreement between the European Union and Turkey is expected to be announced at the next EU-Turkey summit on March 17-18.
