Bećirović for Patria: The refugee situation has so far gotten out of control

The European Union plans to pay Turkey at least 3 billion euros, immediately unfreeze membership negotiations, and by October next year, abolish the visa regime for Turks traveling to the EU. Turkey, in return, will stop the uncontrolled influx of refugees into the EU.

This was concluded during the summit of 28 EU member state prime ministers and presidents with the Turkish Prime Minister, held in Brussels on Sunday.

However, Turkey can only partially control the arrival/departure of refugees from its neighborhood towards the EU. Refugees can find other routes to Europe – warns Zijad Bećirović, Director of the International Institute for Middle Eastern and Balkan Studies (IFIMES) from Ljubljana, in an interview given to the BiH news agency Patria.

Patria: How do you comment on the fact that the EU is promising billions of convertible marks to Turkey and opening accession negotiations for Turkey's membership in the EU, just to stop the wave of refugees into the EU?

BEĆIROVIĆ: Turkey has proven to be a reliable and important partner and ally to the EU, even though it is not yet an EU member. It has proven this countless times in NATO from its founding to the present day.

This money is not intended for Turkey but for refugee assistance.

I would expect more sincerity and desire from the EU towards Turkey regarding its membership. However, I am not convinced that the EU wants Turkey as a member, and furthermore, current events within the EU and on the world stage do not favor this.

Patria: Does this mean that things have gotten out of control, that the EU cannot control refugees, and finally, what kind of problems can refugees cause for EU member states that the EU is so desperately seeking help from Turkey?

BEĆIROVIĆ: Turkey can only partially control the arrival/departure of refugees from its neighborhood towards the EU. Refugees can find other routes to Europe. The EU was late on this, because when it could have been prevented, it did not address the issue.

Only a political solution and the cessation of hostilities can stop the new influx of refugees. Therefore, the EU and other key actors must address the cause of the refugee crisis, which is hostilities, instead of dealing with the consequences.

The situation has so far gotten out of control.

Patria: Do you think Turkey can really stop the refugee crisis in the EU?

BEĆIROVIĆ: No. Turkey can only mitigate the departure of refugees towards Europe to some extent. I repeat, a political solution is needed, because conflicts and wars end that way. And for a conflict/war to end in this case, the minimum geopolitical appetites of the key actors must be satisfied, and that is not simple, which is why we are still far from a solution.