Turkey, EU seek common approach to resolve the refugee crisis
by Anadolu Agency
BRUSSELSOct 01, 2015 - 12:00 am GMT+3
by Anadolu Agency
Oct 01, 2015 12:00 am
EU leaders agree that a common approach between Turkey and Europe is needed in order to solve the refugee crisis, according to a spokesperson of the European Commission.
Margaritis Schinas told a news conference in Brussels on Thursday that European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann held a 45-minute conference call on Wednesday, ahead of Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's visit to Brussels on Monday.
"In regards to Turkey, the three leaders agreed a common approach was needed to help the country [Turkey] in dealing with [refugee] crisis," Schinas said.
Erdoğan will be in Brussels on October 4-6; he is expected to meet with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and European Council President Donald Tusk.
Schinas said the EU will discuss with Turkey on what kind of an agreement is needed -- "on a single solidarity and mutual confidence framework" -- to arrive at a solution.
EU leaders failed to agree during a summit held last month on how to distribute thousands of refugees across the 28-nation-bloc. Turkey has been singled out as a key country to help solve the crisis, as it is a main source of Syrians trying to reach Europe.
"Turkey played a crucial role in the [European] Council's conclusions because [the] country is highly affected by the refugee crisis and the events in Syria," Schinas said.
"We've done a lot of work to ensure Turkey gets all the support including financial support that it needs to handle the situation," he added.
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