Zeynep Aziz
Hundreds of migrants travelled toward Turkey’s borders with Greece and Bulgaria on 28 February after Ankara indicated it would stop enforcing restrictions on departures toward Europe.
What happened
The decision followed the killing of Turkish soldiers in Idlib and growing pressure from displacement in Syria. Greece reinforced its frontier and refused entry, while clashes and competing claims emerged around the Pazarkule crossing.
Why it mattered
Turkey hosted roughly 3.6 million Syrian refugees and argued that European partners had not adequately shared the burden. The move placed the 2016 EU–Turkey migration arrangement under severe strain.
Consequences
The confrontation produced humanitarian concerns for people caught at the border and renewed diplomatic negotiations between Ankara, Athens and European Union institutions.
