EU credibility 'at stake' amid splits over refugee plan

BRUSSELS

The European Union’s credibility is at stake following reports that Italy is hindering the bloc’s plans to provide €3 billion [$3.2 billion] for refugees in Turkey, the European Commission president has said.

Speaking to reporters in Brussels on Friday, Jean-Claude Juncker said: "We haven’t got the full three billion yet. We have money, just not the full three billion. It’s an issue of credibility for the EU."

Referring to Italy’s move to block the funding in exchange for a commitment by Turkey to stem the flow of refugees, Juncker said he would travel to Italy by the end of February to solve the issue.

"The mood between Italy and rest of EU is not at its best at the moment," Juncker said.

On Nov. 29, the European Union and Turkey agreed to speed up the country’s EU accession process if Ankara took steps to stem the flow of refugees coming into the continent.

The bloc also agreed to give billions of euros in funding to meet the needs of more than two million Syrian refugees in Turkey.

BRUSSELS

Referring to Italy’s move to block the funding in exchange for a commitment by Turkey to stem the flow of refugees, Juncker said he would travel to Italy by the end of February to solve the issue.

"The mood between Italy and rest of EU is not at its best at the moment," Juncker said.

On Nov. 29, the European Union and Turkey agreed to speed up the country’s EU accession process if Ankara took steps to stem the flow of refugees coming into the continent.

The bloc also agreed to give billions of euros in funding to meet the needs of more than two million Syrian refugees in Turkey.