Turkey to cancel refugee deal if EU doesn’t keep its word

Turkey will call off the refugee and migrant deal it signed with the EU if the latter does not fulfil its pledges, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said yesterday.

In remarks to parliament, Cavusoglu said: “The deal, which we signed with the EU, is very clear… We want this human tragedy to end, our citizens to enter the EU without a visa and to join the customs union.”

“If the EU does not fulfil its pledges, including the issue of the refugees, we would cancel the deal.”

Turkey and the EU reached a deal last month that stops the influx of Syrian refugees and illegal migrants into the EU in return for financial assistance and political rewards for Turkey.

Based on the deal, the EU agreed to accept thousands of Syrian refugees directly from Turkey and reward it monetarily, with visa-free travel for Turkish citizens and progress in its EU membership talks.