The European Union and Turkey have finally signed a migration deal after tough negotiations which saw Ankara driving a hard bargain. The 28 EU governments were forced to strike a deal after the migrant crisis spiralled out of control and proportion, threatening the future of the EU’s passport-free travel system.
The proposed deal will offer Turkey some incentives – mainly cash and closer ties with the European Union - in return for stemming the flow of migrants into Europe, expected to reach 1.5 million people this year alone. Under the draft deal, the EU is offering $3.2bn to improve the livelihood of the 2.2 million Syrians now living in Turkey so that they are less likely to board boats for nearby Greek islands. The draft deal says: “Both sides will ... with immediate effect, step up their active cooperation on migrants..., preventing travel to Turkey and the EU, ensuring ... readmission provisions and swiftly returning migrants who are not in need of international protection to their countries of origin.”
The deal is equally beneficial to both sides. The Europeans are grappling with the biggest influx of people since World War Two, the bulk of them to Germany. The crisis has emboldened and strengthened anti-immigrant parties in EU countries and set nations against each other, straining the open borders of the EU. Germany has been especially in a soup. Chancellor Angela Merkel was praised for spreading the red carpet to asylum seekers but was mauled for the same at home by the conservatives. The Paris attacks have made it more difficult for EU to accept Syrians and the only solution to the crisis is to stop the migrants from arriving at their borders, for which the migrants need to be stopped from leaving for Europe, in which Turkey can be of immense help.
The biggest gain for Turkey will be the restart of its EU accession talks. Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said in Brussels that it was a “new beginning” for Turkey’s efforts to become an EU member, stalled for 10 years. “Today is a historic day in our accession process to the
EU,” Davutoglu told reporters. “I am grateful to all European leaders for this new beginning,” he said. Germany has been one of the biggest opponents of Turkey’s accession to the EU, and since the EU-Turkey migration deal will benefit Germany the most, Merkel will be happy to tone down her opposition to the EU entry of Turkey. In the draft, Turks are also promised visa-free travel in Europe if they fulfil commitments on migrant flows.
This is a deal that not only solves a crisis, but one that builds bridges.
The European Union and Turkey have finally signed a migration deal after tough negotiations which saw Ankara driving a hard bargain. The 28 EU governments were forced to strike a deal after the migrant crisis spiralled out of control and proportion, threatening the future of the EU’s passport-free travel system.
The proposed deal will offer Turkey some incentives – mainly cash and closer ties with the European Union - in return for stemming the flow of migrants into Europe, expected to reach 1.5 million people this year alone. Under the draft deal, the EU is offering $3.2bn to improve the livelihood of the 2.2 million Syrians now living in Turkey so that they are less likely to board boats for nearby Greek islands. The draft deal says: “Both sides will ... with immediate effect, step up their active cooperation on migrants..., preventing travel to Turkey and the EU, ensuring ... readmission provisions and swiftly returning migrants who are not in need of international protection to their countries of origin.”
The deal is equally beneficial to both sides. The Europeans are grappling with the biggest influx of people since World War Two, the bulk of them to Germany. The crisis has emboldened and strengthened anti-immigrant parties in EU countries and set nations against each other, straining the open borders of the EU. Germany has been especially in a soup. Chancellor Angela Merkel was praised for spreading the red carpet to asylum seekers but was mauled for the same at home by the conservatives. The Paris attacks have made it more difficult for EU to accept Syrians and the only solution to the crisis is to stop the migrants from arriving at their borders, for which the migrants need to be stopped from leaving for Europe, in which Turkey can be of immense help.
The biggest gain for Turkey will be the restart of its EU accession talks. Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said in Brussels that it was a “new beginning” for Turkey’s efforts to become an EU member, stalled for 10 years. “Today is a historic day in our accession process to the
EU,” Davutoglu told reporters. “I am grateful to all European leaders for this new beginning,” he said. Germany has been one of the biggest opponents of Turkey’s accession to the EU, and since the EU-Turkey migration deal will benefit Germany the most, Merkel will be happy to tone down her opposition to the EU entry of Turkey. In the draft, Turks are also promised visa-free travel in Europe if they fulfil commitments on migrant flows.
This is a deal that not only solves a crisis, but one that builds bridges.
