Erdogan Accuses EU Of Not Paying Up Under Migrant Deal
Rukhshan Mir (@rukhshanmir) Published July 26, 2016 | 05:05 PM
BERLIN, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th july,2016) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday accused the EU of not meeting its aid commitments under a deal to send Syrian refugees back across the Aegean, but Brussels denied the charge. Ankara and Brussels signed a controversial deal in March, in which Turkey agreed to take Syrian migrants landing on Greek islands in exchange for political and financial incentives. The deal included billions of Euros in aid, visa-free travel for Turks in Europe and accelerated talks on Turkey's stalled bid for EU membership, but ties have been strained by Erdogan's massive crackdown after a failed coup this month. The EU promised to pay 3 billion euros ($3.3 billion) -- but Erdogan said the 28-nation bloc had so far only handed over a nominal one or two million. "The (European) governments are not honest," Erdogan told German public television station ARD.
"Three million Syrians, or people from Iraq, are now in Turkey," he said.
"The EU has not kept its promises on the matter." In Brussels, the European Commission, the executive of the 28-nation European Union, rejected Erdogan's remarks. "The European Union is respecting its commitments and suggestions to the contrary are not true," Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas told reporters. He said the EU had already allocated 740 million euros and another 1.4 billion would be set aside by the end of this month, bringing the total so far to more than 2.1 billion euros. EU officials said 105 million euros have actually been disbursed so far. Schinas stressed that the funds were "not for Turkey but for the refugees." The Commission said in June it aimed to have 2 billion euros allocated by the end of the summer, with half of that handed over to aid groups.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
'Charter of economy is the need of the hour': Asif
14 bodies found in Haiti capital suburb amid gang violence
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif announces metro bus projects in three ..
PM, UAE ambassador discuss ties
FM, US ambassador agree to enhance ties
Bear injures five in latest Slovak attack
Families of two WASA workers to be compensated properly: Minister
Jam Kamal expresses concern over delay in work of Bela, Jhao roads
FM desires to strengthen Pak-China ties
Michelin unveils 62 newly starred French restaurants
US hopes Haiti transitional council ready 'as soon as' Monday
Excise dept introduces mobile vehicle registration service
More Stories From World
-
AI giant Nvidia unveils higher performing 'superchip'
29 minutes ago -
Griezmann record run ends with France forward injured for friendlies
39 minutes ago -
Football: Asian qualifying tables for 2026 World Cup
59 minutes ago -
Napoli's Jesus accuses Italy defender Acerbi of racist abuse
59 minutes ago -
China supports UN in playing positive role in combating Islamophobia
8 hours ago -
Famine in Gaza expected 'anytime' from now, says UN agency
8 hours ago
-
Iraqi Kurdish party to boycott local polls in tussle with federal court
9 hours ago -
UN agency chief says Israel blocked him from entering Gaza
9 hours ago -
14 bodies found in Haiti capital suburb amid gang violence
9 hours ago -
Bear injures five in latest Slovak attack
9 hours ago -
Michelin unveils 62 newly starred French restaurants
9 hours ago -
US hopes Haiti transitional council ready 'as soon as' Monday
9 hours ago