EU court refuses case challenging Turkey migrant deal

Luxembourg, Luxembourg | AFP |.The EU's top court on Tuesday refused to hear a challenge by three asylum seekers to the bloc's deal with Turkey to stem the flow of migrants, saying it lacked the jurisdiction to hear the case.

The three men -- an Afghan and two Pakistanis -- had contested the validity of the March 2016 accord in a bid to avoid being sent back to Turkey from Greece.

The case, filed last April, argued the agreement was made between the European Council and Ankara, which violated the bloc's rules on sealing international agreements.

But the European Court of Justice ruled that the deal was made by leaders of European member states, which meant the court could not hear the case.

"The court does not have jurisdiction to rule on the lawfulness of an international agreement concluded by the member states," it said.

Under the controversial deal, Ankara pledged to take back all illegal migrants landing in Greece in exchange for financial aid, eased EU visa rules for Turkish citizens, and limited direct resettlement of Syrian refugees living in Turkey.

The pact sharply reduced the number of migrants trying to cross the Aegean Sea to reach Greek islands, although Ankara has repeatedly threatened to walk away from the deal, including over the failure to fulfil the pledge on visa-free travel.