The European commission has
drafted an action plan that would help Turkey navigate the migrant crisis. The
plan would include
- Providing up to €1bn (£0.74bn) for this year and next to help Turkey cope with refugees from Syria and Iraq
- Resettlement of some refugees already in Turkey
- Reinforce the Turkish coast guard to help it tackle smugglers
- Build on plans for lifting visa requirements for Turks travelling to the EU
In exchange for these conveniences,
Turkey would need to “implement asylum procedures and give priority to the
opening of the six refugee reception centers built with the EU co-funding.”
As of today turkey has yet to accept
the action plan put forward by the EU. But an agreement is expected in the coming
days as the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has been in Brussels
meeting with the EU leaders to finalize a deal.
Turkey is essential during this migrant
crisis, as they have already allowed 2.2 million Syrian refugees into their
country. European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker has said, "It is
clear that we need Turkey. The Commission will come to its aid."
However Turkish Economy Minister Nihat
Zeybekci is not thrilled about the plan, he has reportedly said “his country
would welcome a financial contribution from the EU to ease the strain of
hosting migrants, but that funding would "not be a solution" to the
crisis. I would tend to agree with him something more needs to be done to stop
the mass exodus of migrants through Europe.
Turkey believes “millions more refugees could flee the conflict in Syria
due to Russian and Iranian involvement.” If this continues to happen it does
not bode well for other European countries especially those who cannot support the
migrants. The EU and the United States need to get together and figure out a
solution sooner rater than later.
Ashley Rot
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