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Migrant crisis: EU approves Turkey action plan | Migrant crisis: EU approves Turkey action plan |
(about 2 hours later) | |
EU states have approved an action plan for Turkey that it is hoped will ease the flow of migrants to Europe. | |
Nearly 600,000 migrants have reached the EU by sea so far this year, many of them travelling from Turkey to Greece before seeking to head north. | Nearly 600,000 migrants have reached the EU by sea so far this year, many of them travelling from Turkey to Greece before seeking to head north. |
Turkey made a number of demands in exchange for helping to stem the flow. | Turkey made a number of demands in exchange for helping to stem the flow. |
In a press conference in Brussels, Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council, said he felt "cautious optimism" over the deal. | In a press conference in Brussels, Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council, said he felt "cautious optimism" over the deal. |
Reports in Bulgaria said that an Afghan man was shot dead while trying to enter Bulgaria from Turkey late on Thursday. | Reports in Bulgaria said that an Afghan man was shot dead while trying to enter Bulgaria from Turkey late on Thursday. |
He was part of a "large group" of migrants trying to enter Bulgaria, AFP reported, quoting the interior ministry. | He was part of a "large group" of migrants trying to enter Bulgaria, AFP reported, quoting the interior ministry. |
In the Brussels summit, European officials agreed to: | In the Brussels summit, European officials agreed to: |
Turkey had also asked for €3bn (£2.2bn, $3.4bn) in aid, something German Chancellor Angela Merkel said EU states were considering. | Turkey had also asked for €3bn (£2.2bn, $3.4bn) in aid, something German Chancellor Angela Merkel said EU states were considering. |
Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission, said talks over the sum to be given to Ankara would continue with Turkish officials over the coming days. | Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission, said talks over the sum to be given to Ankara would continue with Turkish officials over the coming days. |
Mrs Merkel will travel to Turkey at the weekend. | Mrs Merkel will travel to Turkey at the weekend. |
"There is still a huge amount to do," Mrs Merkel said. "But you cannot say that we've achieved nothing." | "There is still a huge amount to do," Mrs Merkel said. "But you cannot say that we've achieved nothing." |
EU sources had said several countries were cautious about rushing into an agreement with Turkey too quickly. | EU sources had said several countries were cautious about rushing into an agreement with Turkey too quickly. |
Among them were Greece, Cyprus and France. | Among them were Greece, Cyprus and France. |
Analysis - Chris Morris, BBC Europe correspondent, Brussels | Analysis - Chris Morris, BBC Europe correspondent, Brussels |
I think most EU leaders know that, if there is any prospect of bringing the migration crisis under any kind of control, then much closer co-operation with Turkey is absolutely essential. | I think most EU leaders know that, if there is any prospect of bringing the migration crisis under any kind of control, then much closer co-operation with Turkey is absolutely essential. |
What we have had in this summit is a tentative agreement to make progress - but it all depends on how well it's actually implemented. | What we have had in this summit is a tentative agreement to make progress - but it all depends on how well it's actually implemented. |
The chairman of this summit, Donald Tusk, said he was very clear that it all depends on whether the flow of refugees into Europe is actually stemmed - and I don't think we are going to know for weeks whether Turkey has the ability to do that. | The chairman of this summit, Donald Tusk, said he was very clear that it all depends on whether the flow of refugees into Europe is actually stemmed - and I don't think we are going to know for weeks whether Turkey has the ability to do that. |
Read more | Read more |
The BBC's Matthew Price is sending social media broadcasts from Calais on the EU migration crisis. You can follow his reports here. | The BBC's Matthew Price is sending social media broadcasts from Calais on the EU migration crisis. You can follow his reports here. |
The pull of Europe: Five migrant stories | The pull of Europe: Five migrant stories |
Merkel under pressure: Chancellor's migrant policy faces criticism at home | Merkel under pressure: Chancellor's migrant policy faces criticism at home |
Focus on Turkey: Why the EU views Syria's northern neighbour as key | Focus on Turkey: Why the EU views Syria's northern neighbour as key |
Crisis in graphics: Migration numbers explained | Crisis in graphics: Migration numbers explained |
Earlier on Thursday, Mrs Merkel said all EU countries must be prepared to send security staff to the bloc's external borders. | Earlier on Thursday, Mrs Merkel said all EU countries must be prepared to send security staff to the bloc's external borders. |
She said it would be unfair to ask EU countries seeing the majority of initial migrant entries to secure borders as well. | She said it would be unfair to ask EU countries seeing the majority of initial migrant entries to secure borders as well. |
"It's quite obvious that only a few countries today take the majority of refugees and if these countries now are asked to secure the external borders on top of that, I don't think it would be what we could call a fair distribution of effort," Mrs Merkel said. | "It's quite obvious that only a few countries today take the majority of refugees and if these countries now are asked to secure the external borders on top of that, I don't think it would be what we could call a fair distribution of effort," Mrs Merkel said. |
She described the current situation as "very disorderly". | She described the current situation as "very disorderly". |
In other developments: | In other developments: |
Turkey is hosting some two million migrants, most of them fleeing the war in neighbouring Syria. | Turkey is hosting some two million migrants, most of them fleeing the war in neighbouring Syria. |
Turkey has also called for the establishment of an international "safe zone" for refugees inside northern Syria - but Mr Tusk said Russia's involvement in Syria made the idea more difficult. | Turkey has also called for the establishment of an international "safe zone" for refugees inside northern Syria - but Mr Tusk said Russia's involvement in Syria made the idea more difficult. |
Also in Brussels, the UK Prime Minister David Cameron said he would present four main demands for change in the EU in November. It comes ahead of a promised referendum on the UK's membership of the EU in 2017. | Also in Brussels, the UK Prime Minister David Cameron said he would present four main demands for change in the EU in November. It comes ahead of a promised referendum on the UK's membership of the EU in 2017. |
Mr Tusk welcomed Mr Cameron's announcement, adding that the "real negotiations" could start after early November. | Mr Tusk welcomed Mr Cameron's announcement, adding that the "real negotiations" could start after early November. |