Erdogan: Turkey will abandon migrants deal if EU does not fulfil its obligations

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday warned that Turkey will not implement the agreement signed with the European Union on the return of migrants who reach Greece if the European Union does not fulfil its obligations.

“There are precise conditions. If the European Union does not take the necessary steps, then Turkey will not implement the agreement,” Erdogan said in a speech at the Presidential Palace in Ankara.

Under the deal, signed last month, Turkey agreed to take migrants who reached Greece illegally from its shores.

For every Syrian returned, Europe agreed to take a Syrian refugee already living in Turkey to be resettled in an EU country. Turkey is also set to receive funds to spend on the refugees, visa-free travel for Turkish citizens and progress in its EU membership negotiations.