New refugee crisis fear as visas-for-Turks talks falter
THE EU deal with Turkey to ease the migrant crisis is feared to be on the brink of collapse.
Turkey’s EU minister Volkan Bozkir said yesterday talks on giving his countrymen visa-free travel in Europe’s passport-free Schengen zone as soon as next month had reached stalemate.
He said: “I am not very optimistic about the outcome of the talks we held in Brussels today.
“It’s essential that the European Commission finds a new formula.”
The warning came after Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan accused the EU of setting new hurdles for his country.
One of 72 conditions Brussels has set is that Turkey narrows its definition of terrorism.
Critics claim Ankara is using terror laws to stifle legitimate dissent and press freedom. But the government argued that it needs the powers to fight Kurdish and Islamic State attacks.
Turkey said yesterday that eight of its soldiers and 22 militants had been killed in clashes in the past two days in the Kurddominated south-east.
Mr Erdogan has ruled out any return to talks with the separatists PKK and has vowed to crush the group seeking autonomy.
Tension with the EU now threatens to scupper the deal under which Europe offers Turkey visa-free travel to Schengen countries – which do not include Britain – and cash to help with the thousands of Syrian refugees who have fled over its border. Turkey is also being offered faster talks on joining the EU.
The package is in return for Turkey taking back those who arrive on the Greek islands.
For every refugee returned to Turkey, the EU will resettle a Syrian already in Turkey, as part of efforts to deter refugees risking their lives crossing the sea.
EU border agency Frontex said yesterday that the numbers arriving in Greece dropped 90 per cent last month compared with March, seen as a sign that the deal with Turkey was working.
About 2,700 people arrived in Greece from Turkey last month, mostly from Syria, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq.