Turkey urges EU to transfer promised refugee aid

Cavusoglu’s remarks came during a joint press conference in the capital Ankara alongside EU Affairs Minister Omer Celik, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, and EU Enlargement Negotiations Commissioner Johannes Hahn.

“The transfer of the promised 3+3 billion euros must be accelerated and should not be stuck in bureaucracy,” said Cavusoglu.

He said everybody should clearly see for whom the money is being spent.

“I think we [Turkey and EU] both agree on this issue. We should help those people who live in harsh conditions more,” he said.

Turkey and the EU signed a deal this March aiming to discourage irregular migration through the Aegean Sea by taking stricter measures against human traffickers and improving conditions for nearly 3 million Syrian refugees in Turkey.

The deal includes a 6 billion euro ($6.8 billion) aid package to help Turkey care for millions of refugees hosted in the country.

The deal also allows for the acceleration of Turkey’s EU membership bid and visa-free travel for Turkish nationals within the Schengen area, on the condition that Ankara meets 72 requirements set by the EU.

While Turkey has fulfilled most of the criteria, differences between Brussels and Ankara on anti-terror legislation have forestalled the visa liberalization deal.

According to the EU, Turkey must revise its “legislation and practices on terrorism in line with European standards” in order for visa liberalization for Turkish citizens to enter into force, a move Turkey has called unnecessary and improper.