Legal Analysis of the Non-refoulement Principle in the context of the EU-Turkey Deal

Abstract

The present paper examines the compliance of the EU-Turkey Agreement of 18 March 20161 with the principle of non-refoulement - a cornerstone of the international refugee law. EU-Turkey Statement envisages returning asylum-seekers arriving irregularly to the Greek islands via Turkey, to the latter. The mass return of the asylum seekers to the Republic of Turkey “raises eyebrows regarding the legality of the agreement”.