Merkel pushes Turkey for EU migrant plan
German Chancellor Angela Merkel held talks on Sunday with Turkish leaders in a bid to stem the flow of asylum seekers and migrants entering the EU.
Prior to arriving in Turkey, Merkel said that “all the issues will be on the table,” including the conflict in Syria, visa restrictions and the struggle against terrorism.
Officials have said that the EU offered Ankara an aid package of at least 3 billion euro ($3.4 billion) along with easing EU visa restrictions for Turkish citizens and revitalizing EU membership talks.
However, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that he was unimpressed with the EU’s initial offer.
“Europe’s security and stability is contingent on our security and stability. They have accepted this now,” Erdogan told an audience in Turkey’s largest city Istanbul.
“We are hosting 2.5 million refugees but nobody cares,” Erdogan said.
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(Photo: Bundesregierung/Bergmann)