Tusk told lawmakers in Strasbourg on Tuesday that a “potential victory” of the Syrian regime would result an additional 3 million refugees, citing Turkish estimates.
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He warned that “the world around us does not intend to help Europe” and that a few of the EU’s neighbors “look with satisfaction at our troubles”. In addition, many of them are able-bodied men and women of young age capable of attending colleges and universities to better their lot and will surely translate into increased productivity for our economy in the future.
But Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has just concluded a visit to the EU’s headquarters in Brussels, is demanding a higher price in exchange, including a broader strategic partnership between Europe and Turkey to bring an end to the war in Syria. More than 200,000 Syrian refugees already living below the poverty line in Jordan were told in August they would no longer receive food assistance, and others have had their support cut in half. “The Commission will come to its aid”, European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said.
The waves of refugees fleeing Syria overland and via leaky ships in the Mediterranean present the European Union with one of the biggest geopolitical challenges in its 58-year existence.
Western officials had previously cast doubt on the Turkish proposals for a no-fly “safe zone” in northern Syria where refugees could take shelter from the bloody conflict.
With German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President François Hollande speaking jointly in the European Parliament on Wednesday, Mr Tusk said he expects them to make a strong commitment for the protection of the EU’s external borders.
“If we, the Visegrad Countries, can set an example for Europe, then there is a chance that the European Union will follow this example”, Nemeth said.
Later on Tuesday, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov said Turkey’s Defense Ministry had proposed establishing a joint working group “to coordinate activities and prevent possible incidents” related to Russian airstrikes aimed at “the destruction of the Islamic State group on the territory of Syria”. “‘Oh my, don’t open your doors, don’t let them reach us”, according to the Turkish media.
“It is clear that we need Turkey”.
While many Dutch people have actively welcomed asylum-seekers, Wilders’ party has been rising in opinion polls as he has campaigned for the country to close its borders to migrants.
The commission has written to Hungary asking it to clarify its controversial migration policies, Vice President Frans Timmermans said on Tuesday.
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“Strengthened cooperation will benefit both sides”, stated Tusk, saying that both Turkey and Europe needed tighter border control in a veiled reference to the migrants fleeing through Turkey to Greece by sea.
