Interview: Cooperation with Turkey crucial in tackling migrant smuggling: EU commissioner

To crack down migrant smuggling, European Union (EU) member states must cooperate with third countries, in particular with Turkey -- the main transit country for refugees to get into Europe, said EU commissioner for migration Dimitris Avramopoulos in an interview with Xinhua on Monday following the launch of a new European Migrant Smuggling Center (EMSC) here.

"Migrant smuggling transcends national borders. It can only be eradicated effectively through comprehensive and joint efforts," said Avramopoulos. "EU governments and third countries, agencies and international organizations need to step up efforts to produce results. We have to show smugglers that they cannot continue business as usual."

Europol researches found that almost 90 percent of the more than 1 million migrants who entered the EU last year used a "facilitation service" and the criminal gangs generated 3 to 6 billion euros in people smuggling in 2015.

The commissioner underlined the urgency to start cooperation with Turkey in this regard. "It is crucial to step up cooperation with third countries and to assume cooperation with Turkey, being the main transit country for refugees. We want to see more exchange of information between Europol and Turkey."

"Smugglers will keep working if we do not cooperate to fight against their networks on the ground. The Turkish authorities can do it," he said.

Robert Crepinko, the EMSC's director told Xinhua that Europol is currently in negotiations with Turkey to explore the possibility of exchanging information in regards to tackling migrant smuggling. Towards this end the EU's police agency is currently working with Interpol and with EU representatives and liaison officers based in Turkey.

Avramopoulos also called on the Turkish authorities to start implementing the action plan agreed between the EU and Turkey last year. "We are in talks with the Turkish authorities to start implementing as soon as possible what has been agreed. The weather will change, the sea will be calmer," he said, referring to fears shared by EU countries that the influx of refugees will again reach high numbers in spring.

NATO forces, which have been deployed in the Aegean Sea in an effort to stem the number of migrants crossing from Turkey to Greece, are also expected to cooperate against smugglers by feeding information to the national authorities in Greece and Turkey, the commissioner said.

He also stressed that cooperation between Europol and the bloc's border control agency Frontex will help the fight against smuggling.

However, Avramopoulos stressed that tackling the migrant smuggling is not enough to stem the inflow of refugees to Europe. "Unless there is stability in the conflict region the migration crisis will continue." He called for the peace initiatives undertaken by the EU and the United Nations to come to a successful conclusion as soon as possible to stop the conflict in Syria.

He also called on EU member states to start implementing the relocation scheme, which foresees that 160,000 refugees will be allocated among all EU states. "It is mandatory for all member states to be part of the relocation scheme. Only 500 migrants have been relocated," said the EU commissioner. Endit