EU, Turkey sign deal to stem migrant flows

The EU used the summit to underline that it was prepared to give Turkey the 3 billion-euro aid package to help it deal with the estimated 2.2 million Syrian refugees on its territory but leaders still haven’t agreed on the final sum or how much each nation will contribute.

USA TODAY Turkey states it has Russian warplane pilot’s body USA TODAY Turkish president expresses deplore over Russian aircraft downing Each side got concessions: The EU desperately needs Turkish assist to contain the flow of migrants in to the bloc, & Turkey resuscitated long-mothballed hopes to join a bloc by which it will, by population, turn in to the most noteworthy single member.

Muscat further explained that although the summit had focused primarily on migration stemming from the Syrian crisis, it would be a mistake to think Turkey was only important in this respect.

The Europeans, none more so than German Chancellor Angela Merkel, are under pressure to manage the biggest influx of people since World War Two, the bulk of them to Germany.

David Cameron said: “This summit matters because we need a comprehensive solution to the migrant crisis in Europe and obviously that involves Turkey”.

On the other hand, Turkey’s Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Sunday that the summit signified a historic fresh start in the distraught connection between Ankara and Brussels.

“Both sides will, as agreed and with immediate effect, step up their active cooperation on migrants who are not in need of global protection, preventing travel to Turkey and the European Union, ensuring the application of the established bilateral readmission provisions and swiftly returning migrants who are not in need of worldwide protection to their countries of origin”, the draft, seen by Reuters, said.

Turkey has been a candidate to the European Union since 1999 and negotiating for accession since 2005.

“In terms of the discussions this afternoon, a lot of it will be about the Schengen no borders zone that we’re not a member of”. “Turkey will be fulfilling all the promises of the joint plan”, he said, adding that “this €3 billion is to be spent for refugees in Turkey; it’s not for Turkey”.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said ahead of the summit that he is confident “the Turkish authorities will do whatever [they] have to do in order to decrease the flows [of refugees]”.

Turkey’s opposition parties have also joined in criticizing the deal with the EU.

There have also been warnings that lifting visa restrictions on Turkish citizens could lead to a sharp increase in migrants attempting to settle in European Union countries.

Under the most optimistic scenario, the pact could mark the reorientation of Turkey back towards Europe and the values of liberal democracy, after a period during which it turned towards the Middle East and Erdogan became increasingly authoritarian. There are already questions, however, on whether the money going to Turkey will be enough.

“Our main goal is to stem the flow of migrants to Europe”, The New York Times quoted Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, as saying.

To qualify for looser visa requirements, Turkey must be strict in firming up its border controls, Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel insisted, noting that several member states viewed any leeway on visas with “great caution”.