BRUSSELS — European Union leaders eager for Turkey’s help in the migrant crisis cautioned against promising too much to their often reluctant partner at a summit in Brussels Sunday, even as Turkey’s prime minister declared the beginning of a new era for relations between the two sides.
French President Francois Hollande said Sunday that the EU will need to monitor Turkey’s commitments “step-by-step” to help end Syria’s political crisis, fight terrorism and deal with the migrants crisis. He said any funds of a 3 billion euros ($3.2 billion) package to help Turkey deal with the migrants on its territory will be released progressively as the commitments are checked.
“For the moment, there is this 3 billion that has been freed up and it will be released bit by bit along with the commitments of Turkey,” Hollande said upon his departure from the summit. Also part of the new approach toward Turkey are EU promises to make haste with easing visa restrictions and fast-tracking Turkey’s EU membership. In return, Ankara must tighten border security and take back some migrants who don’t qualify for asylum in Europe.
“I want there to be an agreement so that Turkey takes on commitments, Europe supports it, and the refugees can be welcomed,” Hollande said.
Turkey’s Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said he was “thankful to all European leaders for this new beginning, which is not just a beginning of a meeting but the beginning of a new process, which is very important for the future of our common bond in Europe.”
According to the International Organization for Migration, almost 900,000 people fleeing conflict and poverty in the Middle East, Africa and Asia have entered Europe this year seeking sanctuary or jobs. More than 600,000 have entered through Greece, many after making the short sea crossing from Turkey.
More than 2 million refugees from Syria also live in Turkey, but according to Amnesty International, only around one in 10 are being helped by the government. The rest fend largely for themselves.
Even if support for closer relations with Turkey has often been lukewarm at best in many of the EU member states, the refugee crisis has forced a drastic revision of relations with Ankara.
“Turkey is right to expect that the EU provides relief,” said German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Others though pointed out that any aid had to be offset by Turkish commitments on reform and respect for human rights.
EU President Donald Tusk put it straight to Davutoglu during the opening session of the summit. In return for EU aid, he said, “we expect to see an immediate and substantial reduction of irregular migrants arriving to Europe.” Furthermore, he added, the EU nations want Turkey “to realize the common objective of coming closer together through reforms, the upholding of the highest standards of human rights and media freedom and the implementation of agreed roadmaps and benchmarks” that are part of the EU membership talks.
