Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, is credited with issuing the grand invitation for all and sundry to leave whatever country they are in for a better life in Europe. Result, the refugee crises on the borders of Europe. To add to this she is now advising us that the rushed deal with Turkey, to try and stem the flow of migrants, is best for us all. If not Turkey threatens to open its borders and flood the EU with refugees.What is this panacea of a deal that will stop the waves of refugees? Well the EU negotiators have managed to agree the following;

Let’s give Turkey  6 billion Euros to deal with their holding of  refugees in their refugees camps, visa free travel for all 75 million Turks into the EU, fast track EU membership and the EU will take one refugee from Turkey’s refugee camps in return for being able to send one refugee back to Turkey that arrives by boat in Greece. One in – One Out!

Anyone with the slightest common sense will realise that this in no way resolves the issue of refugees coming into Europe and in fact may very well exacerbate the issue. What is worse is that David Cameron, the UK Prime Minister, seems to also be supportive of the plan.

As such a much more radical solution is needed. What is the point of creating a European Defence Agency if it is not being used when it is needed, to defend the borders of Europe. The European Defence Agency (EDA) is an agency of the union based in Brussels. Set up on 12 July 2004, it is a Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) body reporting to the Council of the European Union. Its primary role is to foster European defence cooperation.

A European military force, under the EDA, should be deployed in the Aegean sea. Its role to stop or intercept any refugee boats trying to come to Greece. Of those boats that avoid interception, Greece, with its thousands of islands close to Turkey, should allocate a number as dedicated refugee sanctuaries, under martial law, administered by European Defence Force and humanitarian aid institutions, well away from the mainland with restricted access.

Instead of giving Turkey 6 billion Euros, the EU should be looking to fine Turkey for allowing it to be used as a thoroughfare to Europe. When I last had a look at 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees I am sure that Article 27 places an obligation of the host country, Turkey, to issue temporary legal travel documents for all refugees in their country before they can travel outside of their territory. Just as if you get on a plane with the incorrect travel documents the carrier gets fined and you get sent back.

The deal with Turkey needs to be ratified by the EU member states. Let’s hope they have enough sense to reject it and ask the question; what is the point of being the most powerful trading block in the world if one country can hold you to ransom?