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EU Politicians on Mission to Greece Over Migrant Crisis

© REUTERS / Marko DjuricaA boy queues for free food at a makeshift camp for migrants and refugees at the Greek-Macedonian border near the village of Idomeni, Greece, May 11, 2016.
A boy queues for free food at a makeshift camp for migrants and refugees at the Greek-Macedonian border near the village of Idomeni, Greece, May 11, 2016. - Sputnik International
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Lawmakers from the European Parliament Wednesday (May 18) begin a fact-finding mission to Greece amid huge divisions over the controversial EU-Tukey migrant deal, which has drawn criticism from humanitarian agencies and politicians alike.

The delegation of lawmakers, led by Peter Niedermüller, from the Socialist & Democrats group are due to check the situation of refugees at the external borders of the EU and assess how the EU-Turkey deal to manage migrant and asylum seekers flows into the EU is being implemented.

The EU-Turkey deal allows for "irregular migrants" – those not meeting the criteria for asylum in the EU – to be returned to Turkey, in exchange one-for-one for Syrian refugees to be relocated from Turkey to EU member states.

In return, Turkish citizens would be allowed visa-free travel within the Schengen area and Turkey's accession into the EU would be accelerated. Part of the deal is that Turkey passes legislation to meet 72 demands from the EU, covering various areas, including a loosening of its controversial anti-terror law that has been used to target journalists and academics, a condition which Erdogan has refused to commit to.

Human Rights Issues

However, critics say Erdogan’s record on human rights – particularly freedom of speech and the media – makes the country incompatible with EU principles. Moreover, his battle against the Kurds has drawn major criticism from human rights groups and many EU leaders.

Many relief agencies – including Médecins Sans Frontières, the International Rescue Committee, the Norwegian Refugee Council, Save the Children and Red Cross – have joined the UN refugee agency UNHCR in saying the EU-Turkey deal is either immoral or illegal as the 'hotspots' have become detention centers. 

Refugee camp in Samos, Greece - Sputnik International
Paying the Price: Greek Refugee Hotspots 'Swelling' After EU-Turkey Deal

They also say Turkey is not a 'safe country' for migrants to be returned to, under the Geneva Convention.​The lawmakers are visiting both open and closed reception facilities in the northern part of the country and in Lesbos.

Civil Liberties Committee MEPs have repeatedly quizzed the EU Commission about the conditions in the Greek reception centers, the number and background of staff conducting asylum interviews and the return of migrants and asylum-seekers to Turkey. They are especially concerned about the situation of vulnerable groups, such as women with children and unaccompanied minors. 

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