Merkel ‘ backs Turkey EU deal’
ANGELA Merkel yesterday offered Turkey faster progress in its bid to join the EU and visa-free travel in Europe for its citizens – in return for stemming the flow of migrants.
The German chancellor travelled to Istanbul to discuss the finer points of a deal that was thrashed out last week between EU and Turkish officials.
It will mean Turkish citizens being allowed into Europe’s border-free Schengen zone, as a precursor to full membership of the EU, in exchange for stepping up border controls and readmitting migrants rejected by Europe.
Opponents of the plan believe it is ‘bordering on insanity’ and say that Turkey – a culturally-distinct Muslim country with a questionable human rights record – is holding Europe to ransom over the migrant crisis. There are more than two million Syrian refugees in Turkey, and many make the journey from there to claim asylum in Europe.
Yesterday, after what she described as ‘very promising’ discussions with Turkish prime minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Mrs Merkel said Germany would push forward with protracted EU membership talks and accelerate the path to visa-free travel to the EU for Turks – possibly next year.
The latter measure would not directly affect Britain because it is not in the Schengen zone, but there are fears it could fuel illegal immigration to the UK via Calais.
Turkey will also receive £2.2billion in EU aid to deal with the migrant flow. But in return it will have to step up border controls, tackle people smugglers and readmit migrants refused entry to an EU country.
The crisis was compounded yesterday after Hungary finished putting up a wire fence that closes its borders to refugees.
This means they must now pass through Slovenia on their way to Germany, but the Slovenian government turned away migrants on its borders, saying it can deal with no more than 2,000 a day.