Queering 'Ethical Power Europe' through migration : Why are sexualities

B. Chambel

On March 18th, 2016, during the European summit, the European Council signed a Statement with Turkey (hereafter 'Statement'), enacting a tool designed to 'end the irregular migration from Turkey to the EU'. The measure established that all new irregular migrants 'not in need of international protection' crossing from Turkey to Greece would be returned to Turkey. Equally, a ?one for one? resettlement scheme was established, resettling one Syrian from Turkey into the EU for every Syrian that is returned from Greece to Turkey. The mechanism hinges on two conditions of the 'recast' Asylum Procedures Directive the first country of asylum rule (Article 35) and the the inclusion of Turkey in the list of safe third countries (STC; Article 38). Accordingly, the European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE) raised concerns about returns of asylum-seekers to Turkey without prior individual assessments, since this would amount to illegal pushbacks, as defined by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in Hirsi Jamaa. Despite mentioning minorities such as children, the Statement fails however to address the issue of sexual minorities. Persecution targeting them is an ongoing reality and LGBTIQs are victims of persistent and incited violence. This is highly relevant due to the discrimination, harassment and sexual violence often perpetrated by other refugees in camp settings due to SOGI. Increases in hate speech vis-à-vis LGBTIQs in Turkey, the cancellation of the 13th Istanbul Pride (alongside police attacks on the marchers with plastic bullets and tear gas)