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Refugees

EU and Turkey Seek Better Understanding on Refugee Crisis Amid Migrant Influx

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu praised a "better approach" from the European Union in dealing with the refugee crisis, as thousands more migrants poured into Slovenia headed for western Europe. During Merkel's one-day visit to Istanbul, the two leaders discussed the EU's request for Turkey to tighten its border security and help contain the influx of people from Syria, Iraq, and other conflict zones seeking shelter in the 28-nation bloc. Turkey, hosting over two million Syrian refugees, wants greater recognition for its role, an increase in financial help, and an acceleration of its long-stalled bid for EU membership.

Key Takeaways:

  • The European Union wants Turkey to tighten its border security to help contain the historic influx of people from Syria, Iraq, and other conflict zones seeking shelter in the 28-nation bloc.
  • Turkey, hosting over two million Syrian refugees, wants greater recognition for its role, an increase in financial help, and an acceleration of its long-stalled bid for EU membership.
  • Germany has been Europe's top destination for refugees, with most traveling through Turkey and the Balkans, and is expecting to register up to a million asylum requests this year.
  • Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu hailed Merkel for "not turning a blind eye" to the refugee crisis, praising her humanitarian position.
  • Merkel said that Turkey's immense task of hosting two million Syrian refugees on relatively little funding has led to a "migration pressure" resulting in the influx of migrants into Europe.
  • Erdogan had previously criticized Europe's efforts to deal with the crisis, urging Brussels to take Ankara's EU membership bid more seriously.
  • More than 630,000 people fleeing war and misery have landed on Europe's shores this year, many making risky sea crossings from Turkey to Greece.
  • Support for Merkel's conservatives dipped to 37 percent amid a backlash against the influx of refugees, with a new poll indicating many Germans have become increasingly opposed to the refugee policy.

Statistics:

  • Over 2 million Syrian refugees are hosted by Turkey.
  • 630,000 people have landed on Europe's shores this year.
  • Germany is expecting to register up to a million asylum requests this year.
  • 3,000 migrants crossed the frontier from Croatia to Slovenia on Saturday.
  • Hundreds more migrants arrived in Slovenia on Sunday aboard a special train from Croatia.
  • Another 1,000 people crossed from Slovenia into Austria on Saturday and through the night.
  • 12 people drowned off the Turkish coast on Saturday.

Sources:

  • Agence France-Presse, "Germany and Turkey work to ease refugee crisis," 2015
  • Arab News, "Merkel and Erdogan clash on refugee crisis," 2015
  • Welt am Sonntag, "Germany should build a fence along its border with Austria," 2015

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