Migrant influx is ‘campaign of hybrid warfare’ to force concessions — European Union chief

Around 2 million refugees from Syria are now in Turkey and tens of thousands more have entered the European Union via Greece this year, overwhelming coast guard and reception facilities. “According to Turkish estimates another three million potential refugees may come from Aleppo and its neighbourhood”.

European Council President Donald Tusk said Europe stands ready to help Ankara with financial assistance, border and security resources and the possibility of easing visa requirements for Turkish citizens.

“We have to respect commonly agreed rules,” he said, adding that when countries say they intend to flout the laws “they undermine the essence of solidarity and our community”.

The European Commission has surprisingly postponed the release of its annual progress report on Turkey’s EU membership application process, amid a key visit to the EU capital by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during which the growing refugee crisis tops the agenda. They are supposed to distinguish refugees fleeing war and persecution from other migrants – like those seeking economic opportunity.

Home Secretary Theresa May told the Conservative Party conference Tuesday that Britain should tighten control of its borders, admitting vulnerable refugees but keeping out many people who aspire to a better life.

A Turkish official, who wished to remain anonymous due to his sensitive position in the government, explained to Al-Monitor why Ankara is unmoved by what the European Union is offering.

“A potential victory of Assad’s regime is more likely today because of Iran and Russia’s engagement in Syria, and will result in the next migratory wave”.

A majority of refugees now live in Jordan and Lebanon, but since August 2013, thousands more are fleeing to northern Iraq and Turkey.

Turkey has already spent more than Euro 6.75 B of its own funds to address the crisis.

Officials from the commission, the executive of the 28-nation bloc, will follow up on the plan with a visit to Turkey on Wednesday, the source said.

The Czech Republic said it would send “about 25 soldiers” to neighboring Hungary to help it protect the EU’s external frontiers.

The returns, along with the increasing migration to Europe, signal that conditions in regional host countries have become increasingly intolerable, the refugees and aid officials said.

Speaking in the European Parliament, Mr Tusk ridiculed Angela Merkel over her decision to allow Syrians to claim asylum in Germany regardless of whether they had crossed through other safe EU countries first.

“I can fully understand why a few of us are very critical, are skeptical when it comes to Turkey”, Tusk said in his speech on Tuesday.

In his various remarks in Brussels, Erdogan highlighted the fact that Europe’s refugee crisis is nothing compared with that of Turkey’s.

But Greece and Italy have also been accused of letting migrants move on without proper registration and of dragging their feet on establishing refugee screening centres.