A draft deal on migration between the European Union and Turkey is “unacceptable and contrary to international law,” Spain’s foreign minister said Monday.
“Spain will only accept … an agreement that is coherent, compatible to the international law, and that is extraordinarily respectful towards the human rights of the persons that need to flee from their home country,” José Manuel García-Margallo said on arrival at a meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels.
His remarks come after Spanish opposition parties last week asked acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy not to support a deal with Turkey.
The leader of Spain’s opposition Socialists, Pedro Sánchez, called it a “pact of shame.”
The agreement, which must be ratified by the 28 member states, is designed to allow Turkey to re-admit migrants who have entered the EU in exchange for money and speeded-up negotiations on Turkey joining the EU.
“What Spain condemns is the possibility of collective expulsions,” García-Margallo said.
“What the Spanish government has asked for, and what we are working on with the delegations of other countries, is that everybody who reaches European territory has the right to be treated individually, meaning to present an asylum request, which is examined, and to receive our support in case the request is approved. During this process, every type of return has to be suspended,” he said.
Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría said after the weekly Friday cabinet meeting that the government would seek “consensus” with other political groups on the Turkey deal. Spanish politics is in flux after inconclusive elections in December. Fresh elections are likely, and would be held on June 26.
Rajoy has yet to appear before the Spanish parliament to discuss Spain’s position on the Turkey deal.