EU leaders have announced they are set to hand Turkey 3 billion euros in return for tightening its border security and stopping the flow of migrants into Europe.
Turkey is also being offered an easing of visa restrictions as part of the deal which would see Ankara taking back some migrants who don’t qualify for asylum in Europe.
The country’s Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu called the summit in Brussels today a ‘new beginning’ for relations with the EU.
According to the International Organisation for Migration, almost 900,000 people fleeing conflict and poverty in the Middle East, Africa and Asia have entered Europe this year. More than 600,000 have entered through Greece, many after making the short sea crossing from Turkey.
David Cameron said today that the summit mattered because the migrant crisis in Europe will not be solved without Ankara and that ‘a comprehensive solution’ is needed.
Cameron said much of the discussions at the summit Sunday would focus on Europe’s no-borders zone and that Britain would continue to keep its ‘vital’ border controls.
He said: ‘Britain will continue to play our role, which is about supporting Syrian refugees in the refugee camps and in Turkey.’
More than 2 million refugees from Syria also live in Turkey, but according to Amnesty International, only around one in 10 are being helped by the government. The rest fend largely for themselves.
Read More: Declaring ‘new beginning,’ EU and Turkey seal migrant deal
