All News on Social Issues in Turkey

Bodies on the shore?

The images of bodies of Syrian refugees washing up on Turkey's Aegean coast have become etched in people's hearts and minds. Seeking refuge from war at home cannot be considered a voluntary trip that might be regulated with visa regulations of any sort.

Turkey's new visa law for Syrians enters into force

Turkey has started implementing visa restrictions for Syrians entering the country by air or by sea as part of its efforts to stem the flow of migrants into Europe.

As Ankara has reversed a six-year agreement that allows visa-free entry to citizens of both Syria and Turkey, Syrians arriving in Turkey by air and sea from other countries need visas as of Jan. 8, 2016.

Eight killed in new migrant bus accident in western Turkey

At least seven migrants and the driver were killed, and 42 others were injured, early on Jan. 9 in the western province of Bal?kesir when a bus carrying migrants overturned.

The accident came one day after six people, including four migrants, were killed in the Aegean province of Çanakkale when a bus carrying migrants collided with a car.

Greece denies role in Aegean migrant deaths

Greek authorities have denied any involvement in the Jan. 5 migrant tragedy in the Aegean Sea, citing reports in several Turkish media outlets to that end. 

Turkey Enforces Visa Restrictions for Syrian Citizens

Turkey has introduced, as of January 08, 2016, visa requirements for Syrians entering the country by air or sea.

The measure, supposedly aimed at stemming the flow of migrants, follows an agreement with the EU to help address the migrant crisis that has caught the region in the past years, the last summer being particularly intense.

EU should establish new Greek frontier to stop migrants, Hungarian PM says

The European Union should establish a new frontier on the northern border of Greece, because an agreement with Turkey will not be sufficient to stop hundreds of thousands of migrants from entering Europe, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said.

Hungarian PM: EU Should Admit Bulgaria to Schengen to Halt Migrant Influx

According to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Bulgaria should be admitted to the Schengen Area in order for the EU to be able to deal more effectively with the ongoing refugee crisis.

Orban added in an interview for a public radio on Friday that the EU should establish a new frontier on the northern border of Greece in order to halt the migrant influx to Europe.

EU Unsatisfied with Turkey's Cooperation on Stemming Migrant Influx

European Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans would visit Turkey on Monday to discuss Ankara's efforts to hold back migrants sailing to Greece's Aegean islands, Reuters reported on Thursday.

In November 2015, the EU pledged cash and other concessions to Turkey in return for Turkish help in curbing irregular immigration into Europe.

Human traffickers shift routes to avoid raids

Human traffickers are changing their illegal trafficking routes to Europe depending on the density of the controls on the Aegean coasts, where 96 percent of all illegal passages to Europe are being done. 

Human traffickers prefer the suitable bays and beaches of Turkey's Aegean coast when sending hundreds of migrants to Greek islands in inflatable boats.

EU 'long way from satisfied' with Turkish migrant cooperation

The EU is far from satisfied with Turkey's cooperation in stemming the flow of migrants to Europe after a deal clinched late last year, European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans said Jan. 7.

Mouzalas admits thousands of immigrants may become trapped in Greece

Deputy Minister of Migration Policy Giannis Mouzalas stated that from those who enter Greece through Turkey 50% are illegal immigrants and 50% are refugees, while two months ago the ratio was 80% refugees and 20% illegal immigrants.

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