Turkey: A Country of Transition from Emigration to Immigration

Traditionally, Turkey has been known as a country of emigration. Starting from the early 1960s and well into the 1970s, large numbers of Turkish nationals migrated to western European countries, particularly West Germany. This emigration continued until recent times through family reunification schemes and the asylum track. However, more recently, Turkey has also become a country of transit to the European Union (EU) for irregular migrants from Asian countries such as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Iraq, Iran and Pakistan. Turkey is also becoming a destination for EU professionals and retirees as well as regular and irregular migrants from former Soviet Bloc countries. Furthermore, a growing number of transit migrants are stranded in Turkey. Finally, Turkey is a country of refuge for asylum seekers coming from neighbouring Middle East countries and beyond. Turkey's status as a 'transition country' and its efforts to become a member of the EU are creating pressures for an overhaul of its immigration and asylum Policies. Adapted from the source document.