Turkey has been accused of holding the European Union to ransom as the country said it could demand billions every year for its help to stem the influx of migrants and refugees.
EU leaders signed off on a deal on Sunday to hand over 3billion euros (£2.1billion) and allow Turkey’s 75million citizens visa-free travel in Europe.
But last night it emerged that rather than being a one-off payment, Turkey’s president Recep Erdogan wants EU countries to stump up the same every year in return for it slowing the migrant flow.
Turkey has been able to make its extraordinary list of demands as it is the main route for migrants into Europe. The Islamic country is currently home to more than 2million Syrian refugees.
At the Brussels summit on Sunday, EU leaders agreed to ‘re-energise’ talks on Turkey becoming a member and allow its citizens easier access to the border-free Schengen zone, of which Britain is not a member.
The EU had planned to give 3billion euros over two years to improve conditions in refugee camps so people are less inclined to move to Europe. But after hard bargaining from the Turks, they signed up to the figure being only ‘an initial’ payment, with an agreement for it to be ‘reviewed in the light of the developing situation’.
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