The presidents of the European Commission, Council, and Parliament have vowed to seal the Greek border following Turkey’s decision to relax controls on outward migration. EU interior ministers are expected to take “all necessary measures” to prevent illegal entry into the bloc, including the deployment of border guard reinforcements on land and at sea in addition to providing roughly €350 mission in aid.
Since 2016, Turkey has prevented migrants from entering the EU in exchange for €6 billion in financial support. After escalating violence in northwestern Syria led to an influx of Syrian migrants into Turkey, however, Ankara has threatened to revoke its agreement with the EU. Turkey argues that the EU has failed to deliver the full amount of funds promised.
An influx of Syrian refugees from Turkey into the EU could create a renewed refugee crisis as Europe is already dealing with the arrival of migrants from South America. The refugee crisis of 2015 caused a wave of anti-migrant sentiment and Euroscepticism across the continent.
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