After Erdogan No to Conditions to UnPopular EU-Turkey Deal's VISA-Free for 80 Million Turks: Useless

*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- Shortly before EU Parliament's LIBE Committee and/or Plenary checks, Next Week in Strasbourg, a Controversial EU - Turkey Deal, and mainly the UnPopular VISA-Free status for 80 Millions of Turks, that Ankara extorted from Europe by Blackmail on Mass Irregular Immigrants'  Tsunami via Turkey, President Tayip Erdogan's latest Statements against EU Conditions, (f.ex. on Anti-Terrorism Reforms, Press Freedom, etc), give to Europeans a Chance to Rectify, that should not be missed. Particularly when Official UNHCR and IMO data clearly reveal that a Reduction of Asylum Seekers/Migrants' flow was due to Border Controls by 5 - 6 Countries at the Western Balkans' route, which had Started already Before that Turkey Deal, (See Facts Infra).

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UnPopular
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The simple anouncement, last week, that a Majority inside EU Commission, (as later presented in a Press Conference in Brussels by its vice-President Tindemans, personaly involved in EU-Turkey contacts), would have Accepted the Principle of giving a Total "Visa Free" status to 80 Millions of Turkish Population (according to a 2016 Number, recently endorsed by the CoE), for 6 Months unconditional Entry and Stay inside the EU, each Year, provoked, inter alia, f.ex., in the mainstream French Media "Le Figaro"'s website, an Astonishing, 99% Strongly Negative Giant Wave of numerous Popular Reactions, going from Denouncing EU Bureaucracy, up to Calls for Voting the "FN"s Rightists in the forthcoming April 2017 crucial French Presidential Elections, or even to a Tragic Despair, in an overall Feeling of EU Citizens being Betrayed by "Elites", who haven't even Consulted them, on so Serious Issues which risk to affect People's everyday Life, EU's Socio-Cultural Cohesion, Economy, Security, Identity and Future, (etc).

In Germany, at the Same Time,  62% of the German People are Against such a "Visa-Free" status for all Turks vis a vis the EU, opposed to Only a Small Minority of just 33%, according to several mainstream Media, (such as, f.ex., "Zeit", "Welt", etc). And, there too, Crucial Parliamentary Elections are due for Next Year, (Summer-Autumn 2017).

As for the UK, after UKIP's Chief, Nigel Farage's recent Call at EU Parliament, for Brits to get Out of the EU at least Because of such Threats to let 80 Millions Turkish Population enter inside the EU even without any Visa, at any moment and everywhere, each Year, was added to more recent, Suddenly Pro-Exit Majority Polls, which coincided partly with the way that was perceived that Controversial EU Commission's anouncement, (Comp. Supra). +Former Conservative Party Leader and Minister, Iain Duncan Smith's latest Critical Statements, similar to Farage's, made this point even hotter, (UPDATE). Such events provoked obvious Concerns among EU Politicians that this kind of developments might Fuel a "Brexit" trend in the forthcoming June 2016 Referendum, which, inter alia, have apparently motivated attempts to Postpone Final EU Decisions, (f.ex. by EU Parliament's plenary, but also by EU Commission itself),  for a Later, Post-Brittish Referendum period.

Similar EU Citizens and/or EU Politicians' reactions on that Sensitive Issue, (which comes at a quite Bad Moment, just after the Parallel Controversies provoked throughout all Europe by the recent Massive Asylum Seekers/Irregular Migrants "Tsunami" of more than 1 Million, predominantly Muslim, Immigrants suddenly launched through Turkey, via EU -and Shengen- Member Greece, mainly from August 2015 until March 2016), could easily be found also throughout a lot of more EU Countries Today.

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Dangerous
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EU Citizens' Concerns, as well as those of various EU Politicians, seem quite Justified, and, at least, raise Legitimate Questions. F.ex. :

- Why waste more than 6 Billions € to Turkey, while, on the Contrary, on Eu's Western Mediterranean Borders, Morocco and Spain have succeeded to Prevnt Massive Irregular Migration until now, without Spending such Excessive Amounts of EU Taxpayers Money, (including from Poor People, via the VAT, etc), even vis a vis a Continent so Huge Poor and Conflict-stricken as Africa ?

- Why give a Total "Visa-Free" status to 80 Millions of Turkish Population in 2016, while even Armenians, Georgians, Ukranians, Bielorussians, Moldavians,  Russians, etc., are still Deprived of such a Privilege, despite being European People, both from a Cultural, Historic and Geographical point of view ?

- Open EU's  doors  to 80 Millions of Turks, suddenly all Free to enter even Shengen areas and Stay inside the EU as long as 6 Months Each Year, won't enDanger Europe's Socio-Cultural Cohesion, Identity and Feeling of Common Belonging, while also provoking various Risks, in real practice, vis a vis EU's current UnEmployment Problems ?  And wouldn't it Risk to Aggravate further a Dangerous Rift separating EU Politicians from EU Citizens, as back on 2005 ?

+ Various converging Revelations about many Extreme ISlamist Terrorists of ISIL's atrocious BeHeaders, even of innocent Civilian People, having Infiltrated the EU through Turkey, by Hiding themselves among the recent Massive Asylum Seekers/Irergular Migrants'  Huge "Tsunami", including among those who Attacked and Killed Civilian EU People recently in Paris, Brussels, etc., (Totaling several Dozens, or Hundreds, may be Thousands of "sleeping" Terrorists, according to various Sources and estimations), inevitably raise also various Security Concerns. Moreovern Turkish Regime's notorious Links to ISIL and other Terrorist Groups in Syria and/or Iraq, as well as a recent Finding that Many EU Passports were Transported from Brussels to Turkey, apparently Destinated to ISIL at nearby Seria, Hidden in Pizzas, by a Turkish-origin Smuggler, (according to mainstream German Media), obviously aggravate People's Fears.

- In Addition, as long as Horrible Crimes as that of the Cold-Blood Murder of 3 Dissident Women of Kurdish origin in Paris, Shot and Killed at their Office back on January 2013, (for which an Agent of Turkish Secret Services has been reportedly suspected to be Responsible, during a brief Trip to Europe, as well as, mutatis-mutandis, the recent Mass Aggressions against defenseless Women and Young Girls, ill-treated "like Cattle", during the New Years' Eve, in Cologne, Hamburg and other German Cities, as well as in Sweden, Austria, Denmark, Finland, the UK, etc, add to People's Concerns.

- Moreover, Recent Scandals, as that f.ex. of the Turkish Consulate in the Netherlmands initialy Asking all Turkish Immigrants to Syy on local Journalmists, and Report to Ankara  any Publications Critical to ithe Turkish Government's Policies;, followed even by the Prosecution of a German mainstream TV Journalist by Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan, almost at the same Time that Turkey Interfered even Against a Musical Creation by Dresden's Orchestra inspired by the Armenian Genocide, (etc), provoked a Large Controversy inside the EU, and Concerns about the Future of  Press' and other Democratic Freedoms in the EU Threatened by External Interferences orchestrated by a Turkish Government. which has recently Refused or Supressed Press Accreditations to various  Western Journalists, added to the Notoriously Oppressive stance of Ankara's regime vis a vis various Dissident Turkish Journalists too.

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Erdogan's Blackmails
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Already initialy extorted from the EU during an exceptional "Black Out" in Brussels, by extreme Pressure and Blackmail exerted by the Turkish Government mainly over the Mass Migrants' Crisis comming from Turkey itself, that Controversial and UnPopular EU - Turkey Deal, and particularly its "Visa-Free" provisions for 80 Millions of Turks, became, furthermore, an object of even More and New Pressures by Turkish Prilme Minister Tayip Erdogan :

AFter Firing his Prime Minister, Davutoglou, who had negotiated that Controversial EU  Turkey Deal, Erdogan notoriously Refused to Change the Anti-Terrorism Laws of Ankara's regime, which, among others, are used also in order to Thrteaten and Suppress the Freedom of Expression of Citizens and/or of many Media and Journalists, despite the Fact that a Reform  of Turkey's Anti-Terrorism Legislation was celarly alreadly asked by  the CoE previously. On this occasion, Erdogan reportedly stressed that EU should "Go its Way", and Turkey its own, while also Accusing EU Parliament in Brussels to Tolerate a "Tent" set up by Dissidents, etc.

Later on, despite a subsequent claim that Turkey would "Work Together" with EU Authorities, towards Advancing Ankara's controversial and unpopular EU bid, etc., Erdogan appeared, more and more, interested by attempts to push forward his demand for a "Visa-Free" status to 80 Millions Turks, while reportedly leaving Pending the Issue of the Sort reserved to the EU - Turkey Deal on the Migrants' Crisis..

A stance which, obviously, provoked Concerns to EU Circles aboput Turkey's veiled Threats to Drop its Promisses to Help Reduce the play of Turkish Smugglers accrodd Eu's External Borders in the Aegean Sea, and/or to Add even More Blackmails to the Detriment of EU's Principles and basic Values, etc.

This would naturaly Challenge EU Leaders' Credibility, and put to a Harrd Test, German Chancelor angie Merkel's, and EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker's, as well as most EU Parliament MEPs' statements about EU's attachment to its main Principles and Rules, which must Not be Wetered Down exceptionaly in the case of Turkey.

But, does the EU really Need so much Ankara in order to Try to Stop that Massive Asylum Seekers/Irregular Migrant's "Tsunami" through Turkey towards EU's External Borders in Greece via the Aegean Sea ?

A Fresh Look at the Factual Data already Published until Now in the Press and/or by the competent International Organisations, clearly reveals that the Real Situation is, in fact, directly Opposite to what might Claim, and that EU Fears about what migfht happen if the Turkish Government didn't respect its Commitments, are groundless.

On the Contrary, such a Passive attitude by the EU, would only allow the Turkish regime to Add even More Pressure and Attempts to Blackmail the EU Countries in order to Multiply Dangerous and Damaging Concessions, to the Detriment of EU Citiens and Europe's Future., as several Warned.

Moreover, such an obvious Risk would be faced by the EU for the sake of something which has become, in Practice, more or less Useless Today, as the overall Recent Developments of the Real Situation on the Spot, show to any Careful Examination of the Facts.

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Useless 
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Official Data, mainly from UNHCR and IMO, clearly reveal that, Contrary to a False Impression diffused by most Establisment's Media, it's Not at all since the Entry into Force of the Controversial EU - Turkey Deal that a Reduction of the Number of Mass Asylum Seekers/Irregular Immigrants tresspassing to EU Member Greece throuth the Turkish Coasts, after the 20 of March, 2016.

In Fact, it's Already long Before that, since 5 or 6 European Transit States, located at the Western Balkans' route, such as Slovenia, Croatia, Austria, Hungary, Serbia and FYROM, even Albania, etc., Started to Implement real Border Controls, particularly after February 18 and mainly March 9, that a Spectacular, Sharp Reduction of Mass Migrants' Inflow appeared and developed astonishingly Fast Results, creating, for the 1st Time, a Strong Downward Trend, (See relevant Numbers cited Infra).

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Until February 23, about 100.000 Migrants from Turkey had reached Greece during the Year 2016 alone, according to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), i.a almost 2.000 per Day.

But, already on February 18, Police Authorities from European Countries in the Western Balkans reportedly agreed to impose Daily Quota Limits, "acceptable to Austria", preparing Restrictions of the Maximum Number of Borders' Crossings per Day, which started soon to be progressively felt, (particularly on the Greece - FYROM Border), and widely publicized, even at a Global level, (includfing, f.ex., by a critical Statement from UNO's Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, etc).

When 2 or 3 key European Countries, (as f.ex. Serbia and FYROM, etc) partly Closed their Borders at least for Afghan Migrants, back since February 21, the Number of Arrivals Started to be somewhat Reduced, and this was certainly reinforced by EU Council President Donald Tusk's Dissuasive Statement, at the Beginning of March 2016, about European Countries Ceasing to serve for "Transit", (3 of March 2016). Thus, on March 4, arrivals are estimated to Fall at about 500.

But, Shortly After  5 to 6 European Countries completely Stoped the Mass Migrants' inflow at the Balkans' route Borders, from March 9, (i.e. Weeks Before the controversial EU - Turkey Deal starts to operate), the Number of Mass Asylum Seekers/Irregular Migrants arriving to EU Member Greece via Turkey Droped Down to Only about  the Half of what it was before, with just an average of some 1.150 per Day in Mid-March.

=> Thus, according to UNHCR Data, already, as Early as since February, the Total Number of Arrivals in Greece Falls, from More than 67.400+ on January, Down to about 57.000. (And this is Further Reduced to almost 27.000 on March, when the EU - Turkey controversial Deal didn't have but Only less than 10 Days during which it was Just Beginning Progressively).

>>> More Important : UNHCR Official Data reveal that, in Fact, the Biggest Fall in the Numbers or Arrivals occuired BEFORE the Entry into force of that controversial EU - Turkey Deal, (obviously because of the above mentioned Border Controls earlier set up by 5 or 6 European Countries at the Western Balkan Route: Comp. Supra), and NOT AFTERWARDS !

 -  Indeed, the "Weekly Average" of Mass Asylum Seekers:Irregular Migrants' Arrivals to EU Member Greece through Turkey, Starts to Fall from an almost 3.000 High between 18-24 February, Down to about 2.000  between 25 February and March 3, continuing its Fall Down to about 1.500  between 3 and 9 March, Drasticaly Reduced into Only about 800 during 10 - 16 March, reaching even Lower, with Less than 750 during March 17 - 23, (i.e. when the Controversial EU - Turkey Deal just Starts to Enter into Force).

===> This is tantamount to a Spectacular, sharp Reduction of almsot - 4,5 Times (- 450%) Less Arrivals, just between 18-24 February and 17-23 March, i.e. in Only 1 Month, BEFORE the Entry into force of that EU-Turkey deal, when it was Exclusively the Border Controls set up by 6 European Countries at the Western Balkans' Route, which had entered into play, ( Already as Early as since February 21 and March 9 : Comp. Facts cited Supra).

Compared to that Huge Initial Reduction, the Subsequent Reduction which continues, later-on, under the Combined Effects of Both the Border Controls and the EU - Turkey Deal, the Latter appears as a kind of .. Nain, standing side by side with a Giant ! (See relevant Graphics).

=> In other words, solid and crystal-clear Facts reveal that the alleged, so-called Miraculous Effect of the Controversial EU - Turkey Deal on Mass Asylum Seekers/Irregular Immigrants' Arrivals' Reduction is a Myth, a False Appearance, which Misleads both EU Politicians and EU Citizens... Simply because the 1st and much more Important Reduction of the Number of Arrivals had been already obtained Before the Entry into Force of that EU-Turkey Deal, (and still Continues to operate, until Today), without Wasting 6 Billions €, Neither being Obliged to "Accelerate" the UnPopular Turkey's EU bid, Nor even to Give a "Visa-Free" status to 80 Millions of Turks, that the Majority of European People do Not want at all, (Comp. Supra).

If this Trend Continued, without any Obstruction, Diversion or Interference, logically, in pure, simple Mathematics, (even WITHOUT that Controversial and UnPopular EU-Turkey Deal) before the End of April, the Average Weekly Inflow would have Fallen Down to Less than 160, and Before the End of May, Down to Less than 35....

But, in fact, Despite the Addition of the Entry into force of EU-Turkey's Deal, (after March 20), nevertheless, the latest Figures from the International Migration Organisation (IMO), reveal, on the Contrary, an recent Opposite Trend towards an Augmentation of Migrants' inflows through Turkey to EU Member Greece, with much Higher than normaly Expected Weekly during April 24 - 30, and  May 1 - 8 : Respectively 371 and 537 .

Greece being the Only EU Country with an Augmentation of Migrants' inflow (always through Turkey) even Today, while in all other European Countries, from Spain to Italy, Bulgaria, FYROM, Serbia, Croatia, Austria, etc., on the Contrary, their inflow was Droping Down.

+ In Addition, more than 376 People were Killed while trying to cross from Turkey to EU Member Greece, through the Aegean Sea this Year (2016) until the First Week of May included, while, at the Same Time, f.ex., at the Western EU External Borders between Spain and Morocco only 5 Deaths occured....

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=> isn't it Time for real Europeans to Wake Up from a Nightmare which durated Too Long, before it provokes Dangerous Harm ? 

Many Facts clearly indicate that Simpler Solutions are both Possible, Less Costly, closer to EU Principles, and more Efficient, as some EU Politicians seem to Start  realising recently.

The main Key being, naturaly, the Protection of EU's External Borders, including by the Creation of a European CoastGuard, which should be decided by EU leaders at the forthcoming, June 2016 EU Brussels' Summit.

Meanwhile, EU Parliament's Debates, during its Plenary Session of Next Week in Strasbourg, both at an Exceptional LIBE Committee meeting of Monday Afternoon, and inside the Hemicycle, (etc), should normally serve much more in order to Open MEPs' eyes to Real Facts, than in a pro-Turkish Lobby Attempts to Extort even more Concessions from an EU which would then Risk to Loose both its "Soul" and its Credibility, as well as its Money, for something which Facts prove to be largely Useless, Contrary to False Appearances, (Comp. UNHCR, IMO and other Data cited Supra)...

(../..)

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("DraftNews", as already send to "Eurofora"s Subscribers/Donors, earlier. A more accurate, full Final Version might be Published asap).

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