Leaders of the European Union aim to sign an agreement with Turkey in Brussels on Sunday that offers Ankara cash and closer ties with the EU in return for Turkish help in stemming the flow of migrants to Europe, draft conclusions of the summit showed.
Aware of a sense of desperation in Europe for a solution to a crisis that is tearing the bloc apart following the arrival of close to a million people this year, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has been driving a hard bargain. Diplomats said the 28 states had struggled through Saturday to agree a final offer, Reuters reported.
The draft deal made clear the trade-off between Turkey's help in handling the flow of migrants that has called into question the future of Europe's passport-free travel, and the EU offer of cash and restarting stalled talks on EU accession.
"Both sides will, as agreed and with immediate effect, step up their active cooperation on migrants who are not in need of international protection, preventing travel to Turkey and the EU, ensuring the application of the established bilateral readmission provisions and swiftly returning migrants who are not in need of international protection to their countries of origin," the draft said.
