Germany should balance realpolitik and principles in refugee talks with Turkey

When developing responses to the refugee crisis with Turkey, Germany should beware of possibly dismantling the EU’s minimum standards for designating certain states as ​“safe third countries,” argued Julian Lehmann​at a policy breakfast hosted by GPPi and the European Stability Initiative (ESI) on January 21. Participants discussed​ESI’s proposal of setting a German admission quota​for Syrian refugees in Turkey, in exchange for Turkey’s commitment to take back migrants who reach Greece. Lehmann fears that measures that​could help the EU reach its goal of reducing arrivals may require the coercion​of asylum seekers.