EU agrees to move forward with Türkiye's proposals soon

(Baonghean.vn) - The European Union (EU) has agreed to push ahead with a deal with Turkey to ease the migrant crisis before an EU summit next weekend, Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel said on March 7 (local time) after a Turkey-EU meeting in Brussels.

Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel speaks to the press on March 7 at the European Council in Brussels. Photo: AFP.

Bettel posted on Twitter: “The #EUCO President (Donald Tusk) will move forward with the above proposals and outline the specifics with the Turkish side before the #EUCO in March.” (#EUCO means the European Council summit).

Ankara is now seeking an additional 3 billion euros ($3.3 billion) in aid, along with a migrant swap deal under which the EU would resettle one Syrian migrant from Turkey in exchange for one Syrian migrant Turkey takes back from overcrowded Greek islands.

Following last-minute proposals by Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, the bloc will also consider visa-free travel for Türkiye in June and speed up the country's long-stalled bid for EU membership.

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu (center) with EU leaders at the EU-Türkiye summit in Brussels on March 7, as the EU seeks Ankara's help to stem the flow of refugees and migrants into the bloc. Photo: Reuters.

“A breakthrough with Türkiye. And a clear commitment to restore the Schengen area by the end of the year,” wrote Martyn Selmayr, a senior adviser to European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker.

Juncker has also expressed concerns that closing borders to prevent migrants from entering Europe would damage the passport-free Schengen area, a pillar of unity and freedom for the bloc.

Mina Andreeva, Mr Juncker's spokeswoman, said Juncker and Tusk had agreed with Davutoglu “on the main principles for jointly handling the migration crisis”.

Thu Giang

(According to AFP)