Turkey urged to abide by EU deal and accept rejected asylum seekers

EU chiefs will visit Turkey next week to discuss migration and regional tension

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  A migrant boy stands outside a tent at a refugee camp in Nea Kavala, northern Greece. About 1,500 asylum-seekers transported from Greece's eastern Aegean island of Lesbos to the mainland. Around 1,000 of those transferred and housed in Nea Kavala, where they will be staying in tents until the end of the month, after which they will be transferred to a new camp under construction. AP

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  A migrant carries his belongings at a refugee camp in Nea Kavala, northern Greece. About 1,500 asylum-seekers transported from Greece's eastern Aegean island of Lesbos to the mainland. Around 1,000 of those transferred and housed in Nea Kavala, where they will be staying in tents until the end of the month, after which they will be transferred to a new camp under construction. AP

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  A migrant passes by telephone booths in Nea Kavala camp, near the city of Kilkis, northern Greece. Some 1000 refugees and migrants were transferred from the Greek island of Lesbos to the Nea Kavala camp under a decision taken by the Greek government at an emergency meeting on August 31. AFP

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  Hundreds of migrants arrive from the Greek island of Lesbos in the port of Thessaloniki. Another 700 migrants are due to be transferred later Monday, under a decision taken by the Greek government at an emergency meeting Saturday.The UN High Commissioner for Refugees said that the island of Lesbos was sheltering nearly 11,000 people at the end of August -- four times its capacity. In August alone, more than 3,000 people had arrived there, said the agency. AFP

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  Hundreds of migrants arrive from the Greek island of Lesbos in the port of Thessaloniki. Another 700 migrants are due to be transferred later Monday, under a decision taken by the Greek government at an emergency meeting Saturday.The UN High Commissioner for Refugees said that the island of Lesbos was sheltering nearly 11,000 people at the end of August -- four times its capacity. In August alone, more than 3,000 people had arrived there, said the agency. AFP

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  Children play after arriving at Nea Kavala refugee camp, near the city of Kilkis, northern Greece. Some 1000 refugees and migrants were transferred from the Greek island of Lesbos to the Nea Kavala camp under a decision taken by the Greek government at an emergency meeting on August 31. AFP

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  A boy stands at Nea Kavala camp, near the city of Kilkis, northern Greece. Some 1000 refugees and migrants were transferred from the Greek island of Lesbos to the Nea Kavala camp under a decision taken by the Greek government at an emergency meeting on August 31. AFP

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  Migrants are seen at Nea Kavala camp, near the city of Kilkis, northern Greece. Some 1000 refugees and migrants were transferred from the Greek island of Lesbos to the Nea Kavala camp under a decision taken by the Greek government at an emergency meeting on August 31. AFP

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  A baby sleeps at a refugee camp in Nea Kavala, northern Greece. About 1,500 asylum-seekers transported from Greece's eastern Aegean island of Lesbos to the mainland. Around 1,000 of those transferred and housed in Nea Kavala, where they will be staying in tents until the end of the month, after which they will be transferred to a new camp under construction. AP

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  A migrant arrives at a refugee camp in Nea Kavala, northern Greece. About 1,500 asylum-seekers transported from Greece's eastern Aegean island of Lesbos to the mainland. Around 1,000 of those transferred and housed in Nea Kavala, where they will be staying in tents until the end of the month, after which they will be transferred to a new camp under construction. AP

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  Children sleep inside a tent at a refugee camp in Nea Kavala, northern Greece. About 1,500 asylum-seekers transported from Greece's eastern Aegean island of Lesbos to the mainland. Around 1,000 of those transferred and housed in Nea Kavala, where they will be staying in tents until the end of the month, after which they will be transferred to a new camp under construction. AP

Turkey must resume accepting migrants who have been returned from Greece, the EU said on Monday, as part of the deal agreed with the bloc that Ankara stopped adhering to a year ago.
Ylva Johansson, the EU's home affairs commissioner, accepted there were shortcomings in Europe's approach to tackling irregular migration during a visit to the Greek island of Lesbos, which hosts more than 8,000 asylum seekers.

She was speaking as it was confirmed that EU chiefs Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel are set to visit Turkey next week to meet President Recep Tayyip Erdogan over migration and other regional issues.

“What we have been seeing in Europe the last six years is the lack of a Europeanised migration policy, and that means that member states at our external borders have been under huge pressure,” Ms Johansson said. “And especially some islands have been under huge pressure in the absence of a European solution.”

Ms Johansson said she understood “that everybody has a limit to their patience, and I understand that this limit is close” in some areas, such as Lesbos.

Local residents held protests during her visit demonstrating against the Greek islands hosting the migrants.

A 2016 EU-Turkey deal stipulated that new arrivals must remain on the islands pending return to Turkey unless their asylum application is successful.

Greece’s Migration Minister Notis Mitarachi echoed Ms Johansson's call, urging Ankara to accept 1,450 migrants whose asylum applications were turned down.

He rejected accusations by refugee rights organisations and numerous migrants that Greece illegally deports migrants who haven't first been allowed to apply for asylum.

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  Children are seen in an improvised tents camp near the refugee camp of Moria on the island of Lesbos in Greece on June 21, 2020. All photos by AFP

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  Refugees and migrants are pictured in a improvised tents camp near the refugee camp of Moria on the island of Lesbos.

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  A man lies down inside an improvised tent.

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  A woman with a child is pictured in a improvised tents camp near the refugee camp of Moria.

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  A woman with a child cross a wooden bridge.

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  Refugees and migrants are pictured in an improvised tents camp near the refugee camp of Moria.

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  A boy walks in an improvised tents camp near the refugee camp of Moria.

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  Refugees and migrants are pictured in an improvised tents camp.

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  A child walks in an improvised tents camp.

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  An improvised tents camp around the refugee camp of Moria on the island of Lesbos.

“We strongly deny that the Greek coastguard has been ever involved in pushbacks. Greece is fully adhering to international and European law,” Mr Mitarachi said. “But at the same time, we need to be clear that countries have borders, and there are rules and regulations how the competent authorities must exercise and execute their constitutional obligations to protect the borders of the country.”

Ms Johansson also pledged $326 million of EU money for new camps on the islands of Lesbos, Chios, Samos, Kos and Leros, which host nearly 14,000 migrants.