European Union offers Turkey 3B euros to stem flow of migrants

In the deal’s statement, it said that Turkey had now agreed for illegal migrants to be returned “swiftly”.

Mr Davutoglu emerged from his vehicle at the start of the summit with a broad smile and spoke of a “historic day” – a clear indication at the outset that, for Turkey, this was a good deal.

“Belgium believes Turkey must take its responsibility towards a strategic partnership which is balanced, like border control for example, not just with Europe but also with Syria for example”. “I am grateful to all European leaders for this new beginning”, he said.

Turkey is also being offered an easing of visa restrictions as part of the deal which would see Ankara taking back some migrants who don’t qualify for asylum in Europe. “This is in everyone’s interest”, said French President Francois Hollande.

The money is meant to raise the living standards of Syrian refugees in Turkey, and so persuade more of them to stay put rather than attempt perilous crossings to the European Union via the Greek islands.

Szydlo spoke to reporters Sunday, following an EU-Turkey summit that focused largely on their response to an influx of migrants through Syrian neighbor Turkey into the 28-member European bloc.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, under considerable pressure from the refugee crisis given the sheer number of refugees arriving in Germany, had expected the summit to reach a final deal.

The EU will, in December, open the next chapter of negotiations with Turkey in its accession talks with the EU, which have been dragging on since 2005, and prepare further chapters for discussion in the first three months of next year.

Europe’s most challenging crisis can’t be fully resolved even with Turkey’s help if the EU doesn’t pay enough attention to its external borders, European Council President Donald Tusk said.

Earlier, Turkey promised to help stem the flow of migrants to Europe in return for cash, visas and renewed talks on joining the EU.

European Union leaders are set to hand Turkey 3billion euros in return for tightening its border security and clamping down on the flow of migrants into Europe.

The EU also agreed to speed up work on Ankara’s membership bid to the 28-nation bloc and Turkish visa-free access to the EU.

In a joint press conference with Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Tusk said the talks marked a new starting point in relations with Ankara.

The EU also wants the Turkish authorities to make that journey more hard and to keep out more of the Afghans and other Asians who cross Turkey on their way to Europe.

“Turkey and Europe need each other”. Growing difficulties of fully understanding President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Middle East policy? “No Belgian money for Turkey as long as we are not sure that the engagements are concrete and have been well carried out”. The EU’s foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said the incident should not affect the prospect of finding a political deal on Syria.