The event’s aim was an exchange of expertise on the problem of irregular migration between Turkey and Greece, as well as their multi-dimensional impact on the European Union (EU). In several panels, an international team of experts from the academia, research, government and non-governmental organizations (NGO) dealt intensively with migration, asylum and refugee issues that have arisen as a result of regional conflicts, during the one-day workshops. In addition, the workshop dealt with issues related to international migration law. The event focused on irregular migration at the Turkish-Greek border and possibilities of a bilateral solution.

According to Frontex, the European Agency for the Management of External Borders, the number of irregular border crossings at the external borders of the EU, has risen sharply, from 75,000 in 2012 to over 107,000 in 2013. The eastern Mediterranean migration route (Africa / Middle East - Turkey - Greece / Bulgaria) has been experiencing the highest frequency, followed by the central Mediterranean route (North Africa - Italy). This development is influenced significantly by the civil war in Syria. This civil war has lasted for more than three years and has led to several million immigrants from the Middle East.

According to the Turkish office of disaster and emergency management (AFAD) more than 500,000 Syrian refugees are located in Turkey alone. The actual figure is probably much higher. A portion of these refugees uses Turkey as a transit country on the way to the EU. According to Frontex, Syrian refugees make up 51% of all irregular migrants trying to cross the Turkish-Greek borders towards the EU. Even if the migration flow has decreased over the eastern Mediterranean route by 33 percent in 2013, comparing to the previous year, the Turkish-Greek borders continue to be a significant factor in irregular migration towards the EU.