Türkiye and EU reach 3 billion EUR deal on migrant crisis

(Baonghean.vn) - Türkiye and the European Union (EU) have just agreed on a plan to deal with the record flow of migrants entering Europe. The bloc has promised Turkey 3 billion EUR in aid and held new negotiations on EU membership for the country.

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu (left) and European Council President Donald Tusk attend a press conference after the EU-Türkiye summit in Brussels, Belgium on November 29. Photo: Reuters.

EU Council President Donald Tusk confirmed the agreement after a four-hour summit with Türkiye and leaders of the bloc's 28 countries in Brussels, Belgium on November 29.

At a joint press conference with Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Mr. Tusk affirmed that the negotiations marked a new starting point in relations with Ankara.

“We expect a major step forward to change the rules of the game to stop the flow of migrants into the EU via Türkiye,” Tusk said.

A key element of the plan is a two-year, €3 billion ($3.2 billion) aid package for Türkiye to improve the living standards of the more than 2 million Syrian refugees currently residing in the country.

The EU has also committed to visa-free travel for Turkish citizens within the Schengen area until October 2016 and to restart negotiations on Türkiye's EU membership.

In return, Türkiye would tighten border security, detain migrants who do not qualify for asylum and crack down on human trafficking.

The leaders present at the meeting also agreed to hold annual EU-Türkiye summits.

Unprecedented mission

Europe is dealing with its biggest migration crisis since World War II. According to the International Organization for Migration, nearly 1 million migrants and asylum seekers have entered the EU this year. Turkey is the main gateway for migrants trying to enter the EU, with the ultimate destination being countries like Germany and Sweden.

The French president said the promised EU money would only be poured in “little by little” and Türkiye’s progress in reducing the number of migrants would be closely monitored.

Mr Hollande also affirmed that verification measures should be applied to check people coming to the EU via Türkiye, because some "terrorists" are mixed in with the flow of migrants.

Mr. Ahmet Davutoglu and President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker. Photo: Reuters.

Renewing EU negotiations

Another important part of the deal is a commitment to restart Türkiye’s accession to the EU, which has largely stalled since talks stalled 10 years ago. EU foreign ministers will formally approve the opening of a new chapter in talks with Ankara on December 14.

“Türkiye's membership is not only beneficial for the EU and Türkiye, but also for world peace,” Mr. Dovutoglu affirmed.

Despite signs of closer ties, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has warned that EU membership criteria will not change.

Thu Giang

(According to Reuters, AFP)