EU official says refugee crisis bringing EU and Turkey together

The European Commission Vice President Kristalina Georgieva has said the refugee crisis has reminded the EU of how much they share with Turkey, adding “we hope to strengthen our relations with Turkey at a time when we are facing a common problem”.

Georgieva made her remarks to Anadolu news agency on the sidelines of her meetings with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund in Washington.

“We are neighbours [Turkey and Europe] and we depend on each other. We have moved apart from each other for some years, but the refugee problem has reminded us of how much we share,” she said.

Georgieva noted that the issue of forced migration is a global problem, not a regional one, pointing out that the EU is aware of the high number of displaced people in the world due to the increase of violence, extremism and conflict, as well as climate change and natural disasters.

She stressed on the need for the international community to find new ways to share its obligations towards the displaced and to cooperate with each other in this regard.

“The agreement to return refugees signed between Turkey and the EU serves the interest of both parties,” she said, pointing out that human traffickers finance terrorism and extremism with the money they make from their operations.

Georgieva said the refugees will have a positive impact on the economy of many European countries.