This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/15/eu-summit-will-push-turkey-helping-stem-flow-syrian-refugees

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
EU summit will push Turkey on helping to stem flow of Syrian refugees EU summit will push Turkey on helping to stem flow of Syrian refugees
(35 minutes later)
An EU summit will try to thrash out solutions to Europe’s migration crisis and step up a diplomatic offensive aimed at winning Turkey’s help in stemming the flow of Syrian refugees.An EU summit will try to thrash out solutions to Europe’s migration crisis and step up a diplomatic offensive aimed at winning Turkey’s help in stemming the flow of Syrian refugees.
The summit on Thursday will focus on working with countries outside the continent’s borders to help tackle the worst crisis of its kind since the second world war.The summit on Thursday will focus on working with countries outside the continent’s borders to help tackle the worst crisis of its kind since the second world war.
The German chancellor, Angela Merkel, said in a speech to the Bundestag on Thursday that providing more support to Turkey could play a key role in helping the EU manage refugee numbers.The German chancellor, Angela Merkel, said in a speech to the Bundestag on Thursday that providing more support to Turkey could play a key role in helping the EU manage refugee numbers.
“Most war refugees that come to Europe travel via Turkey. We won’t be able to order and stem the refugee movement without working together with Turkey,” she said.“Most war refugees that come to Europe travel via Turkey. We won’t be able to order and stem the refugee movement without working together with Turkey,” she said.
European leaders hope that helping refugees inside Turkey, giving it money and aiding the country to strengthen its coastguard will discourage Syrian refugees from taking perilous sea and land routes to the continent, but Turkey has so far resisted the EU plan.European leaders hope that helping refugees inside Turkey, giving it money and aiding the country to strengthen its coastguard will discourage Syrian refugees from taking perilous sea and land routes to the continent, but Turkey has so far resisted the EU plan.
The country’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has rejected proposals for more refugee camps and also wants more EU cooperation for his fight against “terrorism”, which is aimed both at Kurdish separatists and Islamic State.The country’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has rejected proposals for more refugee camps and also wants more EU cooperation for his fight against “terrorism”, which is aimed both at Kurdish separatists and Islamic State.
The EU vice-president, Frans Timmermans, and other senior officials arrived in Turkey on Wednesday to push the government on the plan, having postponed their visit after deadly suicide attacks in Ankara at the weekend. The European commission vice-president, Frans Timmermans, and other senior officials arrived in Turkey on Wednesday to push the government on the plan, having postponed their visit after deadly suicide attacks in Ankara at the weekend.
“An agreement with – and concessions to – Turkey only make sense if it effectively reduces the influx of migrants,” the European council president, Donald Tusk, said as he prepared to host the summit.“An agreement with – and concessions to – Turkey only make sense if it effectively reduces the influx of migrants,” the European council president, Donald Tusk, said as he prepared to host the summit.
EU leaders will also discuss creating a possible safe zone in the north of Syria. Turkey has called for a safe area and no-fly zone in northern Syria that would be free from both Bashar al-Assad’s forces and Isis but EU countries are “sceptical”, diplomats say, especially after Russia launched military action in Syria.EU leaders will also discuss creating a possible safe zone in the north of Syria. Turkey has called for a safe area and no-fly zone in northern Syria that would be free from both Bashar al-Assad’s forces and Isis but EU countries are “sceptical”, diplomats say, especially after Russia launched military action in Syria.
“It’s a real dilemma – and the intervention of Russia and Iran makes the situation even more difficult,” a European diplomat said.“It’s a real dilemma – and the intervention of Russia and Iran makes the situation even more difficult,” a European diplomat said.
With no end in sight to Syria’s four-year war, the EU has been toughening its stance in recent months over the flow of migrants, amounting to nearly 600,000 into Europe this year alone. With no end in sight to Syria’s four-year war, the EU has been toughening its stance in recent months over the flow of refugees , amounting to nearly 600,000 into Europe this year alone.
Arguments over the redistribution of 160,000 refugees from the front-line states of Greece and Italy have given way to fears that Europe’s passport-free Schengen zone could collapse as some countries try to curb the huge numbers of migrants criss-crossing the continent.Arguments over the redistribution of 160,000 refugees from the front-line states of Greece and Italy have given way to fears that Europe’s passport-free Schengen zone could collapse as some countries try to curb the huge numbers of migrants criss-crossing the continent.
The EU leaders will discuss a possible EU border guard system and other ways of strengthening the bloc’s external borders, Tusk said in his invitation letter for the summit.The EU leaders will discuss a possible EU border guard system and other ways of strengthening the bloc’s external borders, Tusk said in his invitation letter for the summit.
They will also look at the future of the EU’s Dublin asylum regulations, which say refugees must seek asylum in the first EU country they land in.They will also look at the future of the EU’s Dublin asylum regulations, which say refugees must seek asylum in the first EU country they land in.
Meanwhile, the summit will not waste any time on Britain’s referendum campaign, Berlin signalled on Wednesday, declaring dismissively that there was nothing to talk about.Meanwhile, the summit will not waste any time on Britain’s referendum campaign, Berlin signalled on Wednesday, declaring dismissively that there was nothing to talk about.
Related: British EU referendum ‘will not be debated’ at council summitRelated: British EU referendum ‘will not be debated’ at council summit
In a week that saw the launch of the opposing campaigns for Britain to remain in or leave the EU, the summit had initially been intended to devote much debate to the British question.In a week that saw the launch of the opposing campaigns for Britain to remain in or leave the EU, the summit had initially been intended to devote much debate to the British question.
But David Cameron’s tactics on his EU negotiations before an in/out referendum within two years came under fire from various quarters in the EU because of mounting frustration over the vagueness of the prime minister’s demands.But David Cameron’s tactics on his EU negotiations before an in/out referendum within two years came under fire from various quarters in the EU because of mounting frustration over the vagueness of the prime minister’s demands.
The British question has now been relegated to a one-sentence and final item on the draft summit declaration, after senior officials who had been meeting to prepare the agenda said their British counterparts did not appear to have a mandate for negotiations that got under way in July. The British question has now been relegated to one sentence and is the final item on the draft summit declaration, after senior officials who had been meeting to prepare the agenda said their British counterparts did not appear to have a mandate for negotiations that got under way in July.
A senior German government official said the British issue “will play no role at the European council [summit]”.A senior German government official said the British issue “will play no role at the European council [summit]”.
“There’s no need now for further talks,” he said. “There have been no negotiations.”“There’s no need now for further talks,” he said. “There have been no negotiations.”
Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European commission – who is to have lunch with Cameron on Thursday – voiced the broad impatience with Cameron’s tactics, telling the European parliament: “I cannot say huge progress has been achieved.Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European commission – who is to have lunch with Cameron on Thursday – voiced the broad impatience with Cameron’s tactics, telling the European parliament: “I cannot say huge progress has been achieved.
“To tango it takes two,” he added. “I’m not a splendid dancer but I know the rules. I have to dance. Our British friends have to dance, too.”“To tango it takes two,” he added. “I’m not a splendid dancer but I know the rules. I have to dance. Our British friends have to dance, too.”
The timetable is slipping on the negotiations because London declines to give details of its desired reforms and demands for repatriation of powers, pushing back the likely date of the UK referendum to a year from now at the earliest.The timetable is slipping on the negotiations because London declines to give details of its desired reforms and demands for repatriation of powers, pushing back the likely date of the UK referendum to a year from now at the earliest.
Related: EU referendum: Brussels tells evasive Cameron to spell out agenda for talksRelated: EU referendum: Brussels tells evasive Cameron to spell out agenda for talks
But the main frustration in Brussels and EU capitals is less with the likely date of the referendum than with Britain’s refusal to stipulate its requirements in writing to supply a solid basis for negotiations.But the main frustration in Brussels and EU capitals is less with the likely date of the referendum than with Britain’s refusal to stipulate its requirements in writing to supply a solid basis for negotiations.
Cameron accepts that his negotiations to redefine his country’s EU membership terms may drag on into next spring. He is preparing to hold substantive negotiations with fellow EU leaders at their summit in December.Cameron accepts that his negotiations to redefine his country’s EU membership terms may drag on into next spring. He is preparing to hold substantive negotiations with fellow EU leaders at their summit in December.
But officials expect a deal may not be concluded until the spring European council meeting in Brussels on March 17-18. This suggests the referendum on Britain’s EU membership may not be held until the summer or autumn of next year because the campaign must last at least 10 weeks after the prime minister makes a final decision. But officials expect a deal may not be concluded until the spring European council meeting in Brussels on 17-18 March . This suggests the referendum on Britain’s EU membership may not be held until the summer or autumn of next year because the campaign must last at least 10 weeks after the prime minister makes a final decision.