Türkiye should reopen doors to Europe for refugees, says columnist

Turkish columnist Nedim Sener has emphasized Türkiye’s growing dissatisfaction with the refugee deal with Europe. He noted that the influx of refugees following the Syrian and Russia-Ukraine wars has led to a significant increase in votes for far-right parties across Europe. This situation has further exacerbated economic issues such as inflation and unemployment in the continent.

Sener notes that parties winning in France, Germany and Italy have made returning migrants a priority. While Türkiye hosts around 4 million Syrian refugees, it criticizes the EU for delaying promised financial aid. 

Some opposition parties in Türkiye advocate for returning migrants, while others support opening Western borders.

Sener underscores Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli’s call to end the refugee deal and ensure safe returns for Syrians. He criticized President Erdogan for the EU’s unkept promises despite Türkiye’s decision in 2020 not to stop refugees.

Sener argues that the most effective policy that Türkiye can adopt against the rise of far-right politics in the EU is to withdraw from the refugee deal. He suggests that Türkiye should allow asylum-seekers and migrants visa-free travel to Europe, rather than hindering their movement.