The 3 billion euros offered by the EU to Turkey will help raise the standard of living of the refugees, thereby discouraging them to cross European borders. The largest group of migrants arriving in Europe this year have passed through Turkey on their way to Greece or Bulgaria.
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Tusk also said talks regarding Turkey’s accession to the European Union will be “re-energized”.
Ahmet Davutoglu spoke to reporters Sunday at the end of an EU-Turkey summit focusing largely on their response to an influx of migrants through Syrian neighbor Turkey into the 28-member European bloc.
Meanwhile, it emerged that Turkish citizens will be allowed visa-free access to the continental Europe as part of a deal which could see the country join the European Union in exchange for helping with the migrant crisis.
David Cameron said: “This summit matters because we need a comprehensive solution to the migrant crisis in Europe and obviously that involves Turkey”.
Earlier this month, the EU’s annual report on Turkey’s membership prospects, the publication of which was delayed so as not to upset an earlier round of talks about migration, included stinging criticisms of democratic shortfalls in Turkey.
Two Turkish journalists were arrested last week after they claimed that Turkey had supplied arms to rebels in Syria.
Negotiations to resolve the conflict are going “quite well”, Davutoglu said, while German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed hope that a “window of opportunity” could open in the coming months.
All parties to the deal are seeking to put a positive spin on it, with talk of a new era in relations between Turkey and the European Union; but, observers say with deep distrust on both sides, there is skepticism over how effective the agreement will be.
He said the Summit’s goal today is to stem the flow of migrants to Europe.
Brussels also committed to easing the visa requirements for Turks visiting the EU’s passport-free Schengen area by next October. 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.
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu described it as a “historic day” for Turkey’s accession bid.
Even more problematic, Turkey wants more money in future.
Although Turkey just shot down a Russian aircraft that allegedly crossed its border for a dozen seconds, the EU Facility for Refuges will also provide €3 billion in order to help Turkey to stem irregular migration that, yet, has had no difficulty for more than a year of crossing Turkey’s borders along the Middle East and Europe. “No Belgian money for Turkey as long as we are not sure that the engagements are concrete and have been well carried out”.
Turkey may be a key partner concerning counter-terrorism but the EU needs better cooperation regarding Syria and the Cyprus issue, EU Council President Donald Tusk said on Sunday.
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Turkey’s opposition parties have also joined in criticizing the deal with the EU. Efforts to control the number of people passing through the bloc’s external borders have been largely ineffective, and a plan announced in May to relocate migrants from front-line states like Greece and Italy has barely started.
