Europe's Proposal: Immediate and Widespread Expulsion of Illegal Migrants from Greece

Donald Tusk, the President of the European Union, has proposed creating an immediate and extensive mechanism for the return of illegal migrants from Greece during a meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu. Tusk stated that Turkey can decide how to reduce the number of refugees heading to Europe, and this matter depends on Ankara. The proposed idea, which many in Europe agree with, is a 'broad and immediate mechanism' for returning 'irregular migrants' who enter Greece. According to the EU President, such a measure would effectively undermine the business model established by traffickers. He noted that the number of refugees entering Europe remains very high. Mr. Tusk is currently engaged in a new round of negotiations with six countries, including Greece and Turkey, urging illegal economic migrants not to come to Europe, as it is futile. Donald Tusk met with Alexis Tsipras, the Prime Minister of Greece, on March 4, and will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on March 5. The meeting in Turkey is the last in a series of recent negotiations by Tusk before the Brussels summit, which aims to address the largest crisis arising from refugees in decades. Greece is one of the main entry points for refugees into Europe, having arrived by sea. Many refugees have settled in islands that officials say are 'overcrowded.' Some have managed to travel overland to Germany and other Western and Northern European countries. Germany alone has been the destination for over one million refugees. The International Organization for Migration reports that more than 120,000 people have entered Greece from Turkey since the beginning of this year, with at least 320 of them losing their lives during the journey. Last year, 850,000 illegal refugees and migrants entered Greece.