EU flags at half-mast in protest over treatment of refugees

Dozens of Catalan municipalities have lowered the EU flag to half-mast in protest over the deal reached between the EU and Turkey to send back refugees arriving at EU coasts and borders.

Badalona, ​​Maó, Benissa, Sabadell, Sóller, Barcelona districts, ​​Inca, and other municipalities are among the Catalan cities that have already lowered the European flag to half-mast. Similar protests are also taking place in other European countries. In some cases, legislatures have passed or expect to pass motions against the EU’s policy response to the refugee crisis. Several demonstrations in front city halls have also been planned to protest the deal. The agreement between the EU and Turkey, reached during an extended emergency summit in Brussels, must be ratified between today and tomorrow.

According to the terms of the tentative agreement reached last week, the EU will return to Turkey all persons entering Greece irregularly, including asylum-seekers. EU heads of state and government, meanwhile, agreed to increase financial aid to help Ankara deal with the crisis, and to expedite visas for Turkish citizens starting in June. The EU will also grant asylum to one Syrian refugee for every Syrian that is returned to Turkey.