How can a 2015 deal that has resulted in more being sent from turkey to the EU than EU to turkey be responsible for reducing crossings?
I would suggest it’s more to do with blocking, pushback and general hostility that has forced them to take other routes.
Because people found out very quickly that they would be returned. So they stopped trying. It is well documented and has been a huge success. Asylum seekers from Turkey now avoid the easy Greek islands option. It does turn into whack-a-mole to a certain extent because some try to go much further along the Med. Similar with the Italy deal. Asylum seekers from North Africa are now trying to get to Greece instead of Italy.
