European Commission offers 1 billion euros to Turkey


EU Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn held a press conference on Thursday to announce that the European Commission (EC) is ready to offer 1 billion euros to Turkey to help care for the 2.2 million Syrian refugees who have taken shelter in Turkey.He said the EC will channel the funds upon the approval of Turkish government officials. However, Hann said the funds will be provided for the "integration of the refugees in Turkey and to help the country with educational and medical costs of the Syrians in their own mother tongue."He said Turkey needs to meet some conditions in return for the money, including re-admission of the refugees when it is necessary and taking more strict precautions for human traffickers that help Syrians cross the European border.Hahn said he respects Turkey's capability of handling the refugee crisis, adding that only 25 percent of the refugees that Turkey admitted live in the camps.