Orient
While Ankara and Brussels exchange ultimatums about changing Turkey’s anti-terrorism laws, refugees in Turkey told Daily Sabah they are looking for new routes to Europe once the deal collapses and Turkey opens its borders.
The Turkey-EU migrant deal has apparently paid off and European leaders seem to be satisfied with the decreasing number of people crossing the Aegean Sea to Greece.
However, keeping Europe migrant-free using Turkey’s help may come to an end in the wake of exchanged ultimatums between Brussels and Ankara. The EU is not willing to grant Turkish citizens visa-free travel by early July until Turkey revises its anti-terrorism laws, straining ties with Ankara.
Erdoğan had previously alarmed Europe, saying Turkey would let refugees through its borders to Europe. "Buses and planes are not there for nothing," he said. Erdoğan has given a deadline to Brussels to call off the deal unless visa liberalization is realized.
With the deal is on the brink of collapse, Daily Sabah spoke to refugees in Istanbul. Aware of the growing prospect of the deal breaking down, refugees are already looking for new routes to Europe this summer.
The Gulf Today reported that Turkey must uphold its side of a deal made with the European Union (EU) over stemming the flow of migrants, a top EU official said on Thursday, warning “threats” against the bloc will not work.
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said Ankara must ease strict anti-terror laws if it wants its citizens to enjoy visa-free travel on the continent.