Merkel, Erdogan and “Syrian refugees”. Background and consequences of the migration crisis

Abstract

This article analyzes the reasons behind the grand-scale migration flow to Europe. It is argued that under the mask of “Syrian refugees” more than a million of migrants from different countries came to the continent. The prerequisite for inviting the migrants was a need for extra manpower due to the decision to execute an agreement between the EU and the USA on the implementation of a program of Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). At the same time, the German leaders expected to replenish the catastrophically decreasing population size by migrants. However, during the realization of the project on migrants’ attraction it turned out that instead of the supposed Syrians in a crowd of migrants the people from two dozens of nations, including Islamic radicals, moved to Europe. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the initiator of such a massive refugees’ admission, had to sign an agreement with Turkey on the return of a substantial part of refugees in exchange for the promise of a visa-free regime for the citizens of Turkey, paying off Ankara’s costs for the maintenance of refugee camps within Turkish territory, as well as the assistance in admission of Turkey to the EU membership. However, there is no understanding between the EU members on the decisions made. Moreover, there is a growing comprehension of the fact that Turkey has its own nationalistic interests which it intends to promote through the Islamic presence in Europe.