Ilgın Karlıdağ
March 07, 2016•Update: March 08, 2016
BRUSSELS
The challenges facing Europe in terms of the refugee crisis can be solved through cooperation among the 28 member states and Turkey, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has said.
Speaking at the European Parliament in Brussels on Monday, Davutoglu said: ''We have many challenges in front of us. The only way to respond to these challenges is solidarity. At the end of the day our continent is all together.''
Davutoglu is set to meet with the 28 EU heads of government in Brussels on Monday to discuss ways to solve the worst refugee and migrant crisis facing the Europe since World War II.
The EU has pledged to provide 3 billion euros [$3.2 billion] in aid for refugees hosted in Turkey, visa liberalization for Turkish citizens and speeding up of the candidate country's EU accession process.
In exchange, the EU is expecting Turkey, which hosts the largest number of Syrian refugees in the world, to stop migrants and refugees from entering Europe via its neighbor Greece.
''Turkey is ready to work with EU, and Turkey is ready to be member of the EU as well,'' Davutoglu said.
''Today I hope this summit, which will not focus only irregular migration but also the Turkish accession process to the EU, will be a success story and a turning point in our relations,'' he added.
Turkey presents 'new proposal' to EU in Brussels summit
Turkey has presented a new proposal to EU member states Monday during a summit aimed at solving the worst refugee crisis facing Europe since World War II, a Turkish official said Monday.
Speaking to reporters in Brussels on condition of anonymity, Turkish officials said the EU-Turkey summit is not only focused on migration but also on Turkey’s EU accession process.
''Turkey’s existence here…[Turkey’s] attendance to the summit is not directly linked to the migration issue,'' a Turkish official said.
''We are not here just to talk about the migrants. Turkey’s EU accession is an issue for us here as well,'' he added.
The official said that Turkey and the EU want to find a common ground over the refugee crisis.
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is in Brussels to meet with EU heads of state.
The EU has pledged to provide 3 billion euros ($3.2 billion) in aid for refugees hosted in Turkey, visa liberalization for Turkish citizens and speeding up of the candidate country's EU accession process.
In exchange, the EU is expecting Turkey, which hosts the largest number of Syrian refugees in the world, to stop asylum seekers and refugees from entering Europe via its neighbor Greece.
