To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on reviewing the EU-Turkey refugee agreement; and what steps he is taking to ensure the safety of refugees in Turkey and the surrounding region.
Answered on
21 October 2019
We are committed to supporting the implementation of the EU-Turkey deal, which is key to managing effectively migratory flows and preventing people risking their lives in attempts to cross the Aegean. As declared in a joint EU statement issued on 14 October, we remain engaged in efforts to effectively address the serious humanitarian and refugee crisis, and ensuring the safety of refugees. We and our European partners have been clear that we cannot support any plans to return refugees to Syria unless conditions are in place for voluntary, safe and dignified return.