Sinds het begin van de Europese migratiecrisis in 2015, oogstte de Europese Unie meer kritiek dan ooit tevoren. Populistische partijen sneden de migratiecrisis dankbaar aan om met een beschuldigende vinger naar de EU te wijzen. Volgens hen maakte de EU zich schuldig aan een te verregaande inmenging in een materie die tot de kern van de nationale soevereiniteit behoort. Vanuit meer gematigde hoek klonk dan weer het verwijt dat de EU onvoldoende zou optreden, en aldus zou nalaten haar verantwoordelijkheid te nemen op internationaal niveau. Nu de migratiecrisis stilaan over haar hoogtepunt heen lijkt te zijn, is het belangrijk om te reflecteren over hoe de EU daadwerkelijk op deze crisis gereageerd heeft.
Controverse rond de EU-Turkije Verklaring
Op 18 maart 2016 publiceerde de Europese Raad de EU-Turkije Verklaring. Deze Verklaring werd door de Europese instellingen naar voor geschoven als het belangrijkste onderdeel van de Europese aanpak van de migratiecrisis. De Verklaring moest de toestroom van vluchtelingen die via Turkije en de Middellandse zee de Griekse eilanden bereikten bedwingen. Daartoe voorzag de Verklaring dat alle illegale migranten die via Turkije Europa binnenkwamen, teruggestuurd zouden worden naar Turkije. In ruil voor deze toezegging van Turkse kant, maakte de EU een aantal beloftes zoals het versnellen van Turkije’s toetreding tot de EU, visumvrij reizen binnen de EU voor Turken en drie miljard euro aan bijkomende steun voor Turkije.
Turkije’s twijfelachtige reputatie op vlak van mensenrechten, in het bijzonder na de mislukte staatsgreep van juli 2016, deed echter al snel vragen rijzen over de wettigheid van de EU-Turkije Verklaring. Deze bezorgdheid over de wettigheid van de Verklaring, in het bijzonder over de verenigbaarheid van de Verklaring met mensenrechten- en vluchtelingenwetgeving, leidde uiteindelijk tot drie verzoeken tot nietigverklaring van de Verklaring gericht aan het Europees Hof van Justitie.
Uitspraak van het Hof van Justitie
In antwoord op de verzoeken tot nietigverklaring oordeelde het Hof dat het in deze niet bevoegd was. Daartoe argumenteerde het Hof dat de EU-Turkije Verklaring geen handeling van de Europese Raad is, maar een handeling van de individuele staatshoofden en regeringsleiders. Het Hof van Justitie is inderdaad enkel bevoegd om de wettigheid van handelingen van de Europese instellingen na te gaan, waardoor handelingen van de lidstaten buiten haar bevoegdheid vallen.
Het Hof kon tot een dergelijk besluit komen gezien de staatshoofden en regeringsleiders van de lidstaten tevens de leden van de Europese Raad zijn. Zij kunnen aldus in twee verschillende hoedanigheden optreden, zijnde als vertegenwoordigers van de lidstaten of als leden van de Europese Raad.
Nochtans had het Hof zich, in navolging van een aantal precedenten, kunnen afvragen wie bevoegd was voor de maatregelen vervat in de EU-Turkije Verklaring. Minstens drie van de belangrijkste maatregelen vervat in de EU-Turkije Verklaring behoren immers tot de exclusieve bevoegdheid van de EU. Hiermee rekening houdende, had het Hof niet tot een andere beslissing kunnen komen dan dat de EU-Turkije Verklaring een handeling van de Europese Raad was.
Dat het Hof ervoor koos om af te wijken van haar eigen eerdere rechtspraak, en zichzelf op die manier buitenspel te zetten, wekt de indruk dat het Hof zich moedwillig onbevoegd heeft verklaard.
Compromis of verraad van fundamentele waarden?
Door de EU-Turkije Verklaring te kwalificeren als een handeling van de lidstaten, vermeed het Hof uitspraak te moeten doen over de vermeende schendingen van mensenrechten- en vluchtelingenrecht, en, meer algemeen, de wettigheid van de Verklaring. Verschillende auteurs hebben deze houding van het Hof bestempeld als een poging van het Hof om zich aan te passen aan de politieke realiteit.
Voor de publicatie van de EU-Turkije Verklaring was de weg via Turkije de meest gebruikte vluchtelingenroute naar het Europese continent. Als gevolg van de aanhoudende vluchtelingenstroom, slaagde Griekenland er evenwel niet langer in om alle migranten die via haar grondgebied de EU binnenkwamen te registreren. Doordat de EU een ruimte zonder binnengrenzen is, konden deze ongeregistreerde migranten bovendien vrij doorreizen van lidstaat naar lidstaat. Bovendien slaagden de Europese leiders er door politieke onenigheid niet in om tot een oplossing te komen betreffende de verdeling van vluchtelingen. In deze context werd de EU-Turkije Verklaring onthaald als een deus ex machina.
De eventuele vernietiging van de EU-Turkije Verklaring door het Hof van Justitie zou waarschijnlijk opnieuw leiden tot een explosieve politieke situatie, met het Hof in het hart van de controverse. Het is evenwel duidelijk dat een situatie waarin de instantie die verantwoordelijk is voor de gerechtelijke controle zich afzijdig houdt op grond van politieke overwegingen, eveneens niet zonder gevaar is. Des te meer is dit het geval omdat de EU-Turkije Verklaring betrekking heeft op migratie, een aangelegenheid die nauwe banden vertoont met een aantal fundamentele mensenrechten.
De EU-Turkije Verklaring was de eerste van een hele lijst van partnerschappen met derde landen, bedoeld om het hoofd te bieden aan de Europese migratiecrisis. In 2016 en 2017 werden reeds gelijkaardige partnerschappen tot stand gebracht met Afghanistan en Libië. De EU geeft daarnaast aan in de toekomst te willen samenwerken met onder andere Nigeria, Senegal en Tunesië. In een aantal van deze landen ambieert de EU ook de oprichting van overzeese opvangkampen voor migranten. De vraag blijft evenwel of migranten in deze kampen menswaardig zullen behandeld worden, en, zo niet, of het Hof van Justitie in dat geval wel haar verantwoordelijkheid zal opnemen en zich zal buigen over de grond van de zaak. De uitspraak van het Hof betreffende de EU-Turkije Verklaring doet alvast vermoeden van niet.
Bibliografie
Bibliography
1. Legislation
1.1 EU legislation
1.1.1 Conventions/Treaties (in chronological order)
- Agreement establishing an Association between the European Economic Community and Turkey.
- Treaty on European Union.
- Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
- Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.
- Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Turkey on the readmission of persons residing without authorisation.
1.1.2 Directives (in chronological order)
- Directive 2008/115/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on common standards and procedures in Member States for returning illegally staying third-country nationals, OJ 2008 L 348.
- Directive 2011/95/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 2011 on standards for the qualification of third-country nationals or stateless persons as beneficiaries of international protection, for a uniform status for refugees or for persons eligible for subsidiary protection, and for the content of the protection granted, OJ 2011 L 337.
- Directive 2013/32/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on common procedures for granting and withdrawing international protection, OJ 2013 L 180.
- Directive 2013/33/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 laying down standards for the reception of applicants for international protection, OJ 2013 L 180.
1.1.3 Regulations (in chronological order)
- Regulation (EEC) No 543/69 of the Council of 25 March 1969 on the harmonization of certain social legislation relating to road transport, OJ 1969 L 77.
- Council Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 of 15 March 2001 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement, OJ 2001 L 81.
- Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2001 regarding public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents, OJ 2001 L 145.
- Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas, OJ 2009 L 243.
- Regulation (EU) No 604/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 establishing the criteria and mechanisms for determining the Member State responsible for examining an application for international protection lodged in one of the Member States by a third-country national or a stateless person, OJ 2013 L 180.
- Regulation (EU) No 2016/399 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on a Union Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders, OJ 2016 L 77.
1.1.4 Decisions (in chronological order)
- Council Decision (EU) 2015/1601 of 22 September 2015 establishing provisional measures in the area of international protection for the benefit of Italy and Greece, OJ 2015 L 248.
- Commission Decision of 24 November 2015 on the coordination of the actions of the Union and of the Member States through a coordination mechanism — the Refugee Facility for Turkey, OJ 2015 C 407.
- Commission Decision of 10 February 2016 on the Facility for Refugees in Turkey amending Commission Decision C(2015) 9500 of 24 November 2015, OJ 2016 C 60.
- Council Decision (EU) 2016/1754 of 29 September 2016 amending Decision 2015/1601 establishing provisional measures in the area of international protection for the benefit of Italy and Greece, OJ 2016 L 268.
- Commission Decision of 14 March 2018 on the Facility for Refugees in Turkey amending Commission Decision C(2015) 9500 as regards the contribution to the Facility for Refugees in Turkey, OJ 2018 C 106.
1.2 Other legislation
1.2.1 International Conventions (in chronological order)
- European Convention on Human Rights.
- Geneva Convention.
- Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties.
- Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties between States and International Organizations or between International Organizations.
1.2.2 Bilateral agreements
- Greece-Turkey Readmission Protocol.
1.2.3 National legislation
- Law on Foreigners and International Protection (Turkey).
2. Case law
2.1 Court of Justice of the European Union (in chronological order)
- Judgment of the Court, NV Algemene Transport- en Expeditie Onderneming van Gend & Loos v. Netherlands Inland Revenue Administration, C-26/62, ECLI:EU:C:1963:1.
- Judgment of the Court, Flaminio Costa v. E.N.E.L., C-6/64, ECLI:EU:C:1964:66.
- Judgment of the Court, Commission v. Council, C-22/70, ECLI:EU:C:1971:32.
- Judgment of the Court, Haegeman v. Belgium, C-181/73, ECLI:EU:C:1974:41.
- Opinion 1/75, ECLI:EU:C:1975:145.
- Judgment of the Court, Defrenne v. Sabena, C-43/75, ECLI:EU:C:1976:56.
- Judgment of the Court, International Chemical Corporation v. Amministrazione delle fianze dello Stato, C-66/80, ECLI:EU:C:1981:102.
- Judgment of the Court, European Parliament v. Council and Commission, joined cases C-181/91 and C-248/91, ECLI:EU:C:1993:271.
- Judgment of the Court, Metalsa, C-312/91, ECLI:EU:C:1993:279.
- Judgment of the Court, Dr. Pamela Mary Enderby v. Frenchay Health Authority and Secretary of State for Health, C-127/92, ECLI:EU:C:1993:859.
- Judgment of the Court, France v. Commission, C-327/91, ECLI:EU:C:1994:305.
- Opinion 2/94, ECLI:EU:C:1996:140.
- Judgment of the Court of First Instance, Opel Austria v. Council, T-115/94, ECLI:EU:T:1997:3.
- Judgment of the Court, ENU v. Commission, C-357/95, ECLI:EU:C:1997:144.
- Opinion 2/00, ECLI:EU:C:2001:664.
- Judgment of the Court, Commission v. Belgium, C-471/98, ECLI:EU:C:2002:628.
- Judgment of the Court, Commission v. Germany, C-476/98, ECLI:EU:C:2002:631.
- Judgment of the Court, Commission v. Germany, joined cases C-20/01 and C-28/01, ECLI:EU:C:2003:220.
- Judgment of the Court, Kadi and Al Barakaat International Foundation v. Council and Commission, C-402/05, ECLI:EU:C:2008:461.
- Judgment of the Court, Commission v. Greece, C-45/07, ECLI:EU:C:2009:81.
- Judgment of the Court, Commission v. Council, C-370/07, ECLI:EU:C:2009:590.
- Judgment of the Court, Firma Brita GmbH v. Hauptzollamt Hamburg-Hafen, C-386/08, ECLI:EU:C:2010:91.
- Judgment of the Court, Walz, C-63/09, ECLI:EU:C:2010:251.
- Opinion 1/13, ECLI:EU:C:2014:2303.
- Opinion 2/13, ECLI:EU:C:2014:2454.
- Judgment of the Court, Ledra Advertising v. Commission and ECB, C-8/15 P, ECLI:EU:C:2016:701.
- Order of the General Court, NF v. European Council, T-192/16, ECLI:EU:T:2017:128.
- Order of the General Court, NG v. European Council, T-193/16, ECLI:EU:T:2017:129.
- Order of the General Court, NM v. European Council, T-257/16, ECLI:EU:T:2017:130.
- Judgment of the Court, X and X, C-638/16 PPU, ECLI:EU:C:2017:173.
- Opinion of Advocate-General Mengozzi in X and X, C-638/16 PPU, ECLI:EU:C:2017:173.
- Judgment of the Court, Jafari, C-646/16, ECLI:EU:C:2017:586.
- Judgment of the Court, A.S., C-490/16, ECLI:EU:C:2017:585.
- Judgment of the Court, Slovakia v. Council, joined cases C-643/15 and C-647/15, ECLI:EU:C:2017:631.
- Order of the General Court, Access Info Europe v. Commission, T-851/16, ECLI:EU:T:2018:69.
- Order of the General Court, Access Info Europe v. Commission, T-852/16, ECLI:EU:T:2018:71.
2.2 Other case law (in chronological order)
- PCIJ Judgment of 25 May 1926, German Interests in Polish Upper Silesia (Germany v. Poland).
- ICJ Advisory Opinion of 11 April 1949, Reparation for Injuries Suffered in the Service of the United Nations.
- ICJ Judgment of 19 December 1978, Aegean Sea Continental Shelf case (Greece v. Turkey).
- ICJ Judgment of 1 July 1994, Maritime Delimitation and Territorial Questions between Qatar and Bahrain (Qatar v. Bahrain).
- ICJ Judgment of 3 February 1995, Territorial Dispute (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya v. Chad).
- ICJ Judgment of 10 October 2002, Case concerning the Land and Maritime Boundary between Cameroon and Nigeria (Cameroon v. Nigeria).
- ECtHR Judgment of 25 January 2018, J.R. and Others v. Greece.
3. Doctrine
3.1 Books (in alphabetical order)
- AUST A., Modern Treaty Law and Practice, Cambridge, Cambridge University press, 2013, 467 p.
- CRAIG P. and DE BURCA G., EU Law. Text, cases and materials. Sixth edition, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2015, 1198 p.
- CRAWFORD J., Brownlie’s Principles of Public International Law. Eighth Edition, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2012, 803 p.
- CREMONA M. and KILPATRICK C. (eds.), EU Legal Acts. Challenges and Transformations, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2018, 263 p.
- DE BAERE G., “The Framework of EU External Competences for Developing the External Dimension of EU Asylum and Migration Policy”, in MAES M., FOBLETS M.-C. and DE BRUYCKER P. (eds.), External Dimensions of EU Migration and Asylum Law and Policy, Brussels, Bruylant, 2011, 121-174.
- EDWARD D. and LANE R., Edward and Lane on European Union law, Cheltenham, Edward Elgar, 2013, 988 p.
- EECKHOUT P., EU External Relations Law. Second Edition., Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2011, 571 p.
- EISELE K. and RESLOW N., “Encouraging legal migration and preventing irregular migration: coherence or contradiction?”, in SEGAERT B., GORTAZAR C. and PARRA M.-C. (eds.), European Migration and Asylum Policies: Coherence or Contradiction?, Brussels, Bruylant, 2012, 165-174.
- FLETCHER M., HERLIN-KARNELL E. and MATERA C. (eds.), The European Union as an Area of Freedom, Security and Justice, Abingdon, Routledge, 2017, 517 p.
- GEIGER R., KHAN D.-E. and KOTZUR M. (eds.), “European Union Treaties: A Commentary”, München, Beck, 2015, 1248 p.
- GOVAERE I., LANNON E., VAN ELSUWEGE P. and STANISLAS A. (eds.), The European Union in the world. Essays in Honour of Marc Maresceau, Leiden, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 2014, 637 p.
- HAECK Y. and HERRERA C. B., “Procederen voor het Europees Hof voor de Rechten van de Mens”, Antwerpen, Intersentia, 2011, 467 p.
- HOFFMEISTER F., “The Contribution of EU Practice to international Law in Developments in EU External Relations Law”, in CREMONA M. (ed.), Developments in EU External Relations Law, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2008, 37-127.
- HOLLIS D. B. (ed.), The Oxford Guide to treaties, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2012, 804 p.
- KACZOROWSKA-IRELAND A., Public International Law. Fifth Edition, London, Routledge, 2010, 834 p.
- KOUTRAKOS P., EU International Relations Law, Oxford, Hart Publishing, 2015, 579 p.
- LENAERTS K., MASELIS I. and GUTMAN K., EU Procedural Law, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2014, 890 p.
- VON BOGDANDY A. and SMRKOLJ M., “European Community and Union Law and International Law”, in WOLFRUM R. (ed.), The Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2010, 828-839.
- WOLFRUM R., “Obligation of Result Versus Obligation of Conduct: Some Thoughts About the Implementation of International Obligations”, in ARSANJANI M. H., COGAN J., SLOANE R. and WIESSNER S. (eds.), Looking to the Future. Essays on International Law in Honor of W. Michael Reisman, Leiden, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 2010, 363-383.
3.2 Articles in legal journals (in alphabetical order)
- BATALLA ADAM L., “The EU-Turkey Deal One Year On: A Delicate Balancing Act”, The International Spectator 2017, 44-58.
- BOVENS M., “Analysing and Assessing Accountability: A Conceptual Framework”, European Law Journal 2007, 447-468.
- BRANDSMA G. J., HEIDBREDER E. and MASTENBROEK E., “Accountability in the post-Lisbon European Union”, International Review of Administrative Sciences 2016, 621-637.
- CANNIZARO E., “Disintegration Through Law?”, European Papers 2016, 3-6.
- FERNANDEZ ARRIBAS G., “The EU-Turkey Statement, the Treaty-Making Process and Competent Organs. Is the Statement an International Agreement?”, European Papers 2017, 303-309.
- GOVAERE I., “Multi-faceted single legal personality and a hidden horizontal pillar: EU external relations post-Lisbon”, Cambridge yearbook of European Legal Studies 2011, 87-111.
- GOVAERE I., “Setting the international scene: EU external competence and procedures post-Lisbon revisited in the light of ECJ Opinion 1/13”, Common Market Law Review 2015, 1277–1308.
- HAFERLACH L. and KURBAN D., “Lessons Learnt from the EU-Turkey Refugee Agreement in Guiding EU Migration Partnerships with Origin and Transit Countries”, Global Policy 2017, 85-93.
- IVANOVA D., “Migrant Crisis and the Visegrád Group’s Policy”, International Conference Knowledge-Based Organization 2016, 35-39.
- MATUSESCU C., “Considerations on the Legal nature and validity of the EU-Turkey refugee deal”, Union of Jurists of Romania Law Review 2016, 91-101.
- P. K., “A Realist Court”, European Law Review 2017, 311-312.
- PHILP M., “Delimiting Democratic Accountability”, Political Studies 2009, 28-53.
- POON J., “EU-Turkey Deal: Violation of, or Consistency with, International Law?”, European Papers 2016, 1195-1203.
- SPIJKERBOER T., “Minimalist Reflections on Europe, Refugees and Law”, European Papers 2016, 533-558.
- ZOETEWEIJ M. H. and TURHAN O., “Above the Law – Beneath Contempt: The End of the EU-Turkey Deal?”, Swiss Review of International and European Law 2017, 151-165.
3.3 Papers (in alphabetical order)
- BATALLA ADAM L., “The Refugee Card in EU-Turkey Relations: A Necessary but Uncertain Deal”, September 2016, http://www.iai.it/sites/default/files/gte_wp_14.pdf.
- CARRERA S., BLOCKMANS S., GROS D. and GUILD E., “The EU’s Response to the Refugee Crisis: Taking Stock and Setting Policy Priorities”, CEPS, 16 December 2015, https://www.ceps.eu/system/files/EU%20Response%20to%20the%202015%20Refu….
- CARRERA S., DE SOMER M., and PETKOVA B., “The Court of Justice of the European Union as a Fundamental Rights Tribunal. Challenges for the Effective Delivery of Fundamental Rights in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice”, CEPS, August 2012, https://www.ceps.eu/publications/court-justice-european-union-fundament….
- CARRERA S., DEN HERTOG L. and STEFAN M., “It wasn’t me! The Luxembourg Court Orders on the EU-Turkey Refugee Deal”, CEPS, April 2017, https://www.ceps.eu/publications/it-wasn%E2%80%99t-me-luxembourg-court-….
- CHERUBINI F., “The “EU-Turkey Statement” of 18 March 2016: A (Umpteenth) Celebration of Migration Outsourcing”, 17 June 2016, https://www.openstarts.units.it/bitstream/10077/15219/1/BSA3_04-Cherubi….
- DE CONINCK J., “Circumvention of Complicity – A Questionable and Dangerous Practice in External Migration Management? The EU-Turkey Statement”.
- DEN HERTOG L., “EU Budgetary Responses to the ‘Refugee Crisis’. Reconfiguring the Funding Landscape”, CEPS, May 2016, https://www.ceps.eu/system/files/LSE%20No%2093%20LdH%20on%20EU%20Budget….
- EMMANOUILIDIS J. A., “Elements of a complex but still incomplete puzzle: an assessment of the EU(-Turkey) summit”, European Policy Center, 21 March 2016, http://www.epc.eu/documents/uploads/pub_6417_post-summit_analysis_-_21_….
- GOLDNER LANG I., “Human Rights and Legitimacy in the Implementation of EU Asylum and Migration Law”, 24 January 2018, https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3108379.
- GUILD E., BROUWER E., GROENENDIJK K. and CARRERA S., “What is happening to the Schengen borders?”, CEPS, December 2015, https://www.ceps.eu/system/files/No%2086%20Schengenland_0.pdf.
- IDRIZ N., “The EU-Turkey statement or the ‘refugee deal’: the extra-legal deal of extraordinary times?”, Asser Institute, 1 December 2017, https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3080881.
- IDRIZ N., “The EU-Turkey deal in front of the Court of Justice of the EU: An unsolicited Amicus Brief”, Asser Institute, 2017.
- MORELLI V. L., “European Union Enlargement: A Status Report on Turkey’s Accession Negotiations”, 5 August 2013, https://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RS22517.pdf.
- ODERMATT J., “When a Fence Becomes a Cage: The Principle of Autonomy in EU External Relations Law”, European University Institute, 2016, http://cadmus.eui.eu/bitstream/handle/1814/41046/MWP_2016_07.pdf?sequen….
- ODERMATT J., “The European Union as a Global Actor and its Impact on the International Legal Order”, University of Leuven Department of Law, 2016.
- OTT A., “EU-Turkey cooperation in migration matters: a game changer in a multi-layered relationship?”, Centre for the Law of EU External Relations, 2017, http://www.asser.nl/media/4085/cleer17-4_web.pdf.
- PAPADOPOULOU A., “The implementation of the Hotspots in Italy and Greece. A study”, ECRE, 5 December 2016, https://www.ecre.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/HOTSPOTS-Report-5.12.20….
- RIMMER C., “EU Migration Policy and Returns: Case Study on Afghanistan. Summary and ECRE’s Recommendations”, ECRE, https://www.ecre.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Returns-Case-Study-on-A….
- SPIJKERBOER T., “Fact Check: Did the EU-Turkey Deal Bring Down the Number of Migrants and Border Deaths?”, Border Crimilogies, 28 September 2016, https://www.law.ox.ac.uk/research-subject-groups/centre-criminology/cen….
- SPIJKERBOER T., “Bifurcation of Mobility, Bifurcation of Law. Externalization of migration policy before the EU Court of Justice”, 2017.
- TOYGÜR I. and BENVENUTI B., “The European response to the refugee crisis: Angela Merkel on the move”, Istanbul Policy Center – Mercator Policy Brief, June 2016, http://ipc.sabanciuniv.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/IlkeToygur_Bianca….
- TOYGÜR I. and BENVENUTI B., “One Year On: An Assessment of the EU-Turkey Statement on Refugees”, Elcano Royal Institute, March 2017, http://www.iai.it/sites/default/files/iaiwp1714.pdf.
- VAN ELSUWEGE P., “The duty of sincere cooperation (Art. 4 (3) TEU) and its implications for the national interest of EU Member States in the field of external relations”, UACES, September 2015, https://www.uaces.org/documents/papers/1501/Van%20Elsuwege.pdf.
3.4 Blog posts (in alphabetical order)
- BABICKA K., “EU-Turkey Deal seems to be schizophrenic”, Migration Online, 22 March 2016, http://migrationonline.cz/en/eu-turkey-deal-seems-to-be-schizophrenic.
- CANNIZARO E., “Denialism as the Supreme Expression of Realism – A quick Comment on NF v. European Council”, European Papers, 15 March 2017, http://europeanpapers.eu/en/europeanforum/denialism-as-the-supreme-expr….
- CORTEN O. and DONY M., “Accord politique ou juridique: quelle est la nature du “machin” conclu entre l’UE et la Turquie en matière d’asile?”, EU Immigration and Asylum Law and Policy, 10 June 2016, http://eumigrationlawblog.eu/accord-politique-ou-juridique-quelle-est-l….
- DANISI C., “Taking the ‘Union’ out of the ‘EU’: The EU-Turkey Statement on the Syrian Refugee Crisis as an Agreement Between States under International Law”, European Journal of International Law, 20 April 2017, https://www.ejiltalk.org/taking-the-union-out-of-eu-the-eu-turkey-state….
- DARBISHIRE H. and IZUZQUIZA L., “Access Info challenges European Commission secrecy around EU-Turkey refugee deal legal advice before the European Court of Justice”, Access Info Europe, 2 December 2016, https://www.access-info.org/article/27029.
- DE CAPITANI E., “Is the European Council responsible for the so-called “EU-Turkey Agreement”? The issue is on the Court of Justice table…”, FREE Group, 7 June 2016, https://free-group.eu/2016/06/07/is-the-european-council-responsible-fo….
- DEN HEIJER M. and SPIJKERBOER T., “Is the EU-Turkey refugee and migration deal a treaty?”, EU Law Analysis, 7 April 2016, http://eulawanalysis.blogspot.be/2016/04/is-eu-turkey-refugee-and-migra….
- FILI A., “The Continuum of Detention in Greece”, Border Criminologies, 25 May 2016, https://www.law.ox.ac.uk/research-subject-groups/centre-criminology/cen….
- GARCIA ANDRADE P., “Who is in charge? The external representation of the EU on dialogues on immigration and asylum with third countries”, EU Immigration and Asylum Law and Policy, 13 January 2016, http://eumigrationlawblog.eu/who-is-in-charge-the-external-representati….
- GARCIA ANDRADE P., “External Competence and Representation of the EU and its Member States in the Area of Migration and Asylum”, EU Immigration and Asylum Law and Policy, 17 January 2018, http://eumigrationlawblog.eu/external-competence-and-representation-of-….
- GATTI M., “The EU-Turkey Statement: A Treaty That Violates Democracy. Part 1 of 2”, European Journal of International Law, 18 April 2016, https://www.ejiltalk.org/the-eu-turkey-statement-a-treaty-that-violates….
- GATTI M., “The EU-Turkey Statement: A Treaty That Violates Democracy. Part 2 of 2”, European Journal of International Law, 19 April 2016, https://www.ejiltalk.org/the-eu-turkey-statement-a-treaty-that-violates…;
- GIUFFRE M. G., “From Turkey to Libya: the EU Migration Partnership from bad to worse”, 20 March 2017, Eurojus.it, http://rivista.eurojus.it/from-turkey-to-libya-the-eu-migration-partner….
- IDRIZ N., “Taking the EU-Turkey Deal to Court?”, Verfassungsblog, 20 December 2017, https://verfassungsblog.de/taking-the-eu-turkey-deal-to-court/.
- IZUZQUIZA L., “One year later: what we (still don’t) know about the EU-Turkey agreement and accountability”, Access Info Europe, 18 March 2017, https://www.access-info.org/uncategorized/27982.
- KOENIG N., “The EU’s External Migration Policy: towards win-win-win partnerships”, 6 April 2017, http://www.delorsinstitut.de/2015/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/20170406_E….
- KOENIG N. and WALTER-FRANKE M., “One year on: What lessons from the EU-Turkey ‘deal’?”, Jacques Delors Institut Berlin, 17 March 2017, http://www.delorsinstitut.de/2015/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/20170317_E….
- LABAYLE H., “L’accord Union européenne avec la Turquie: l’heure de vérité?”, Réseau Universitaire européen dédié à l’étude du droit de l’Espace de liberté, sécurité et justice, 28 April 2016, http://www.gdr-elsj.eu/2016/04/28/asile/laccord-union-europeenne-avec-l….
- LABAYLE H. and DE BRUYCKER P., “The EU-Turkey Agreement on migration and asylum: False pretences or a fool’s bargain”, EU Immigration and Asylum Law and Policy, 1 April 2016, http://eumigrationlawblog.eu/the-eu-turkey-agreement-on-migration-and-a….
- LEINO P. and WYATT D., “No public interest in whether the EU-Turkey refugee deal respects EU Treaties and international human rights law?”, European Law Blog, 28 February 2018, https://europeanlawblog.eu/2018/02/28/no-public-interest-in-whether-the….
- LIMONE L., “Today’s Court (non) decision on the (non) EU “deal”? with Turkey”, FREE Group, 1 March 2017, https://free-group.eu/2017/03/01/the-todays-court-non-decision-on-the-n….
- LIMONE L., “EU-Afghanistan “Joint Way Forward on migration issues”: another surrealist EU legal text?”, FREE Group, 11 April 2017, https://free-group.eu/2017/04/11/eu-afghanistan-joint-way-forward-on-mi….
- NIELSEN N., “EU-Turkey deal not binding, says EP legal chief”, EU Observer, 10 May 2016, https://euobserver.com/justice/133385.
- PALM A., “The Italy-Libya Memorandum of Understanding: The baseline of a policy approach aimed at closing all doors to Europe”, EU Immigration and Asylum Law and Policy, 2 October 2017, http://eumigrationlawblog.eu/the-italy-libya-memorandum-of-understandin….
- PEERS S., “The draft EU/Turkey deal on migration and refugees: is it legal?”, EU Law Analysis, 16 March 2016, http://eulawanalysis.blogspot.be/2016/03/the-draft-euturkey-deal-on-mig….
- PEERS S. and ROMAN E., “The EU, Turkey and the Refugee Crisis: What could possibly go wrong?”, EU Law Analysis, 5 February 2016, http://eulawanalysis.blogspot.be/2016/02/the-eu-turkey-and-refugee-cris…;
- PIJNENBURG A., “JR and Others v Greece: what does the Court (not) say about the EU-Turkey Statement”, Strasbourg Observers, 21 February 2018, https://strasbourgobservers.com/2018/02/21/jr-and-others-v-greece-what-….
- ROMAN E., BAIRD T. and RADCLIFFE T., “Analysis: Why Turkey is not a “safe country””, Statewatch, February 2017, http://www.statewatch.org/analyses/no-283-why-turkey-is-not-a-safe-coun….
- TOALDO M., “The EU deal with Libya on migration: a question of fairness and effectiveness”, European Council on Foreign Relations, 14 February 2017, https://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_the_eu_deal_with_libya_on_migrat….
- ULUSOY O., “Turkey as a Safe Third Country?”, Border Criminologies, 28 March 2016, https://www.law.ox.ac.uk/node/12866.
- VERNISEAU T., “L’ambiguïté fondamentale de la déclaration « EU-Turquie » relative à l’immigration : acte international ou acte du conseil européen ?”, Jus Politicum Blog, 24 October 2017, http://blog.juspoliticum.com/2017/10/24/lambiguite-fondamentale-de-la-d….
- WOOLLARD C., “Weekly Editorial: EU-Turkey – Deconstructing the deal behind the statement”, ECRE, 16 March 2018, https://www.ecre.org/weekly-editorial-deconstructing-the-deal-behind-th….
3.5 Speeches (in alphabetical order)
- BOELAERT S., Speech at “The Odysseus Network’s 3rd Annual Conference: Conflict and Competence Between Law and Politics in EU Migration and Asylum Policies”, Workshop E on “External Competence and Representation of the EU and its Member States in the Area of Migration and Asylum”, 1 February 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tq4hm8PU1uM&index=9&list=PL5j0rT9PoY-S-….
- DEHOUSSE F., Speech at “The Odysseus Network’s 3rd Annual Conference: Conflict and Competence Between Law and Politics in EU Migration and Asylum Policies”, Final Plenary Session, “Towards “Judicial Passivism” in EU Migration and Asylum Law?”, 1 February 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONcFnv0grVU.
- GARCIA ANDRADE P., Speech at “The Odysseus Network’s 3rd Annual Conference: Conflict and Competence Between Law and Politics in EU Migration and Asylum Policies”, Workshop E on “External Competence and Representation of the EU and its Member States in the Area of Migration and Asylum”, 1 February 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRD0LV1MG-o&list=PL5j0rT9PoY-S-QNIiX6fv….
- GATTI M., Speech at “The Odysseus Network’s 3rd Annual Conference: Conflict and Competence Between Law and Politics in EU Migration and Asylum Policies”, Workshop E, “External Competence and Representation of the EU and its Member States in the Area of Migration and Asylum”, 1 February 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-sRjLp8Isc&index=8&list=PL5j0rT9PoY-S-….
- GOLDNER LANG I., Speech at “The Odysseus Network’s 3rd Annual Conference: Conflict and Competence Between Law and Politics in EU Migration and Asylum Policies”, Final Plenary Session, “Towards “Judicial Passivism” in EU Migration and Asylum Law?”, 1 February 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8U98izwkyA.
- SHARPSTON E., Speech at “The Odysseus Network’s 3rd Annual Conference: Conflict and Competence Between Law and Politics in EU Migration and Asylum Policies”, Final Plenary Session, “Towards “Judicial Passivism” in EU Migration and Asylum Law?”, 1 February 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvaI3UrqVMQ.
- SPIJKERBOER T., Speech at “The Odysseus Network’s 3rd Annual Conference: Conflict and Competence Between Law and Politics in EU Migration and Asylum Policies”, Workshop E on “External Competence and Representation of the EU and its Member States in the Area of Migration and Asylum”, 1 February 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2IjCQucj2s&list=PL5j0rT9PoY-S-QNIiX6fv….
- VERWEY M., Speech at “The Institute of International and European Affairs”, on “EU-Turkey Statement – 10 months on”, 26 January 2017, https://www.iiea.com/eu-affairs/the-refugee-crisis-and-the-implementati….
4. Official instruments
4.1 Instruments of European institutions
4.1.1 European Commission (in chronological order)
- European Commission, “EU-Turkey Readmission Agreement signed and Visa Liberalization Dialogue launched”, 16 December 2013, https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/what-is-new/news/news/2013/20131216_0….
- European Commission, “Roadmap: towards a visa-free regime with Turkey”, 16 December 2013, https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/sites/homeaffairs/files/what-is-new/n….
- European Commission, “Questions and Answers: Smuggling of Migrants in Europe and the EU response”, 13 January 2015, http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-15-3261_en.htm.
- European Commission, “Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions – A European Agenda on Migration”, 13 May 2015, https://ec.europa.eu/anti-trafficking/sites/antitrafficking/files/commu….
- European Commission, “Commission Recommendation of 8.6.2015 on a European resettlement scheme”, 8 June 2015, https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/sites/homeaffairs/files/e-library/doc….
- European Commission, “Draft Action Plan: Stepping up EU-Turkey cooperation on support of refugees and migration management in the view of the situation in Iraq and Syria”, 6 October 2015, http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-15-5777_en.htm.
- European Commission, “EU-Turkey Joint Action Plan”, 15 October 2015, http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-15-5860_en.htm.
- European Commission, “EU-Turkey Cooperation: A €3 billion Refugee Facility for Turkey”, 24 November 2015, http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-15-6162_en.htm.
- European Commission, “Commission presents Recommendation for a Voluntary Humanitarian Admission Scheme with Turkey for refugees in Syria”, 15 December 2015, http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-15-6330_en.htm.
- European Commission, “Report from the Commission tot the European Parliament and the Council. EU-Turkey Joint Action Plan – Third implementation report”, 4 March 2016, http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52016DC014….
- European Commission, “EU-Turkey Statement: Questions and Answers”, 19 March 2016, http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-16-963_en.htm.
- European Commission, “Proposal for a Council Decision amending Council Decision (EU) 2015/1601 of 22 September 2015 establishing provisional measures in the area of international protection for the benefit of Italy and Greece”, 21 March 2016, https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/sites/homeaffairs/files/what-we-do/po….
- European Commission, “Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council and the Council – First Report on the progress made in the implementation of the EU-Turkey Statement”, 20 April 2016, https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/sites/homeaffairs/files/what-we-do/po….
- European Commission, “Implementing the EU-Turkey Agreement -Questions and Answers”, 20 April 2016, http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-16-1494_en.htm.
- European Commission, “Commission announces New Migration Partnership Framework: reinforced cooperation with third countries to better manage migration”, 7 June 2016, http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-16-2072_en.htm.
- European Commission, “Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council and the Council – Second Report on the progress made in the implementation of the EU-Turkey Statement”, 15 June 2016, https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/sites/homeaffairs/files/what-we-do/po…;
- European Commission, “Implementing the EU-Turkey Statement – Questions and Answers”, 15 June 2016, http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-16-1664_en.htm.
- European Commission, C(2016) 6029, “Decision of the Secretary General on behalf of the Commission pursuant to Article 4 of the Implementing Rules to Regulation (EC) N° 1049/2001”, 19 September 2016, https://www.asktheeu.org/en/request/2695/response/11199/attach/4/201616….
- European Commission, C(2016) 6030, “Decision of the Secretary General on behalf of the Commission pursuant to Article 4 of the Implementing Rules to Regulation (EC) N° 1049/2001”, 19 September 2016, https://www.asktheeu.org/en/request/2851/response/11200/attach/4/2016%2….
- European Commission, “Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council and the Council – Third Report on the progress made in the implementation of the EU-Turkey Statement”, 28 September 2016, https://ec.europa.eu/neighbourhood-enlargement/sites/near/files/news_co….
- European Commission, “Screening of the acquis”, 6 December 2016, https://ec.europa.eu/neighbourhood-enlargement/policy/glossary/terms/sc….
- European Commission, “Conditions for membership”, 6 December 2016, https://ec.europa.eu/neighbourhood-enlargement/policy/conditions-member….
- European Commission “Accession Negotiations”, 6 December 2016, https://ec.europa.eu/neighbourhood-enlargement/policy/glossary/terms/ac….
- European Commission, “The EU Facility for Refugees in Turkey”, April 2018, https://ec.europa.eu/neighbourhood-enlargement/sites/near/files/frit_fa….
- European Commission, “EU-Turkey Statement – One year on”, https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/sites/homeaffairs/files/what-we-do/po….
- European Commission, “The hotspot approach to managing exceptional migratory flows”, https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/sites/homeaffairs/files/what-we-do/po….
4.1.2 European Council (in chronological order)
- European Council, “Informal meeting of EU heads of state or government on migration”, 23 September 2015, http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2015/09/23/state….
- European Council, “Meeting of the heads of state or government with Turkey – EU-Turkey Statement, 29/11/2015”, 29 November 2015, http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2015/11/29/eu-tu….
- European Council, “Report by President Donald Tusk to the European Parliament on the outcome of the December European Council”, 19 January 2016, http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2016/01/19/tusk-….
- European Council, “Refugee Facility for Turkey: Member states agree on details of financing”, 3 February 2016, http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2016/02/03/refug….
- European Council, “Statement of the EU Heads of State or Government, 07/03/2016”, 7 March 2016, http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2016/03/08/eu-tu….
- European Council, “Remarks by President Donald Tusk after the meeting of the EU heads of state or government with Turkey”, 7 March 2016, http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2016/03/07/tusk-….
- European Council, “European Council 17-18 March 2016 in Brussels. Background brief”, 16 March 2016, http://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/23720/160316-euco-background-note-….
- European Council, “EU-Turkey Statement”, 18 March 2016, http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2016/03/18/eu-tu….
- European Council, “Remarks by President Donald Tusk after the meeting of the EU heads of state or government with Turkey”, 18 March 2016, http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2016/03/18/tusk-…;
- European Council, “Malta Declaration by the members of the European Council on the external aspects of migration: addressing the Central Mediterranean route”, 3 February 2017, http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2017/02/03/malta….
- European Council, “Negotiating Status – Turkey”, 31 January 2018, https://ec.europa.eu/neighbourhood-enlargement/sites/near/files/2018013….
- European Council, “Member States’ notifications of the temporary reintroduction of border control at internal borders pursuant to Article 25 et seq. of the Schengen Borders Code”, https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/sites/homeaffairs/files/what-we-do/po….
- European Council, “Operational Implementation of the EU-Turkey Statement”, https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/sites/homeaffairs/files/what-we-do/po….
4.1.3 Council of the European Union (in chronological order)
- Council of the European Union, “Press release: 2770th Council meeting. General Affairs and External Relations”, 11 December 2006, http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_PRES-06-352_en.htm?locale=en.
- Council of the European Union, “Conclusions of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States meeting within the Council on resettling through multilateral and national schemes 20 000 persons in clear need of international protection”, 22 July 2015, http://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-11130-2015-INIT/en/pdf.
- Council of the European Union, “Accession conference at Ministerial level opens negotiations with Turkey on Chapter 17 - Economic and monetary policy”, 14 December 2015, http://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/24454/press-release-accession-conf….
- Council of the European Union, “Accession conference with Turkey: Talks opened on Chapter 33 - Financial and budgetary provisions”, 30 June 2016, http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2016/06/30/turke….
4.1.4 European Parliament (in chronological order)
4.1.5 CJEU
4.1.6 EU bodies offices or agencies (in chronological order)
- European External Action Service, “Joint Way Forward on migration issues between Afghanistan and the EU”, 5 October 2016, https://eeas.europa.eu/sites/eeas/files/eu_afghanistan_joint_way_forwar….
- Frontex, Risk Analysis for 2016, http://frontex.europa.eu/assets/Publications/Risk_Analysis/Annula_Risk_….
- “Legal advice and/or analysis of the legality on EU-Turkey agreements”, 17 March 2016, https://www.asktheeu.org/en/request/legal_advice_andor_analysis_of_t_2.
- “Legal advice and/or analysis of the legality on EU-Turkey agreement”, 26 April 2016, https://www.asktheeu.org/en/request/legal_advice_andor_analysis_of_t_6.
- Frontex, Risk Analysis for 2017, https://frontex.europa.eu/assets/Publications/Risk_Analysis/Annual_Risk…
- Eurostat, “Asylum statistics”, April 2018, http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Asylum_stat….
4.2 Other instruments (in chronological order)
- International Law Commission, “Draft articles on the law of treaties with commentaries” in Yearbook of the International Law Commission. 1996. Volume II, 1996, 187-274.
- Memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the fields of development, the fight against illegal immigration, human trafficking and fuel smuggling and on reinforcing the security of borders between the State of Libya and the Italian Republic, 2 February 2017, http://eumigrationlawblog.eu/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/MEMORANDUM_tran….
5. Reports of human rights organisations (in chronological order)
- “Pushed Back, Pushed Around Italy’s Forced Return of Boat Migrants and Asylum Seekers, Libya’s Mistreatment of Migrants and Asylum Seekers”, Human Rights Watch, September 2009, https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/italy0909web_0.pdf.
- “Legal considerations on the return of asylum-seekers and refugees from Greece to Turkey as a part of the EU-Turkey Cooperation in Tackling the Migration Crisis under the safe third country and the first country of asylum concept”, UNCHR, 23 March 2016, http://www.unhcr.org/56f3ec5a9.pdf.
- “No safe refuge: asylum-seekers and refugees denied effective protection in Turkey”, Amnesty International, June 2016, https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/EUR4438252016ENGLISH.pdf.
- “Open Letter: The European Parliament must immediately address the Joint Way Forward Agreement between the EU and Afghanistan”, ECRE, 26 October 2016, https://www.ecre.org/open-letter-the-european-parliament-must-immediate….
- “The EU-Turkey deal: Europe’s year of shame”, Amnesty International, 20 March 2017, https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2017/03/the-eu-turkey-deal-europ….
- “Human Act or Devil’s Pact. Human rights aspects of migration agreements between EU and third countries”, Netherlands Institute for Human Rights, 18 May 2017, file:///C:/Users/juliedevrieze/Downloads/Paper%20Human%20Act%20or%20Devils%20Pact%20Engels%20(2).pdf.
6. Press articles (in chronological order)
- “Migrant crisis: Merkel warns of EU ‘failure’”, BBC News, 31 August 2015, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34108224.
- RAYNER G., “Paris attacks: How Europe’s migrant crisis gave terrorist Abdelhamid Abaaoud the perfect cover”, The Telegraph, 19 November 2015, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/12006713/paris….
- TRAYNOR I., “Is the Schengen dream of Europe without borders becoming a thing of the past?”, The Guardian, 5 January 2016, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/05/is-the-schengen-dream-of-….
- “Greece Passes Law Allowing Migrants’ return to Turkey”, BBC News, 1 April 2016, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35948447.
- KINGSLEY P. and SMITH H., “First boats returning migrants and refugees from Greece arrive in Turkey”, The Guardian, 4 April 2016, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/04/first-moves-to-deport-ref….
- GRUPPEN P., “Zeventien migranten dagen Italië voor Europees mensenrechtenhof”, De Morgen, 9 May 2018, https://www.demorgen.be/buitenland/zeventien-migranten-dagen-italie-voo….