Merkel heads to Turkey as frustration over refugee crisis grows
Turkey, a key country on the migrant route to Europe, is central to Merkel's diplomatic efforts to reduce the flow of incoming people.
The chancellor's visit comes days after a renewed round of criticism by EU officials about Turkey's lack of efforts to curb the number of migrants making their way to Europe.
At the same time, Turkey faces mounting pressure to open its border to up to 35,000 Syrians who have massed along the frontier fleeing an onslaught by government forces.
Turkey, home 2.5 million Syrian refugees, says it has reached its capacity to absorb refugees but has indicated that it will continue to provide refuge.
Turkey agreed in November to fight smuggling networks and help curb irregular migration. The EU has pledged 3 billion euros (£2.3 billion, $3.3 billion) to help improve the condition of refugees.
But since the deal, EU officials have denounced Turkey on more than one occasion, arguing that the country was not doing nearly enough to help curb the flow of migrants making their way to Europe.
On Saturday, European Commissioner for enlargement Johannes Hahn, warned that Turkey needed to show results in the coming weeks, before a European summit on February 18.
REUTERS/Darrin Zammit Lupi
Hahn also warned that if Turkey failed to dramatically cut the number of migrants reaching Greece within weeks, the pressure for more border closures and fences would grow.
In January alone, over 68,000 crossed the Aegean Sea into Greece, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and over 360 people lost their lives trying to reach Europe.
- Saudi Arabia wants China to help fund its struggling $500 billion Neom megaproject. Investors may not be too excited.
- I spent $2,000 for 7 nights in a 179-square-foot room on one of the world's largest cruise ships. Take a look inside my cabin.
- One of the world's only 5-star airlines seems to be considering asking business-class passengers to bring their own cutlery
- Shubman Gill to play 100th IPL game as Gujarat locks horns with Delhi today
- Realme Narzo 70, Narzo 70X 5G smartphones launched in India starting at ₹11,999
- Indian housing sentiment index soars, Ahmedabad emerges as frontrunner
- 10 Best tourist places to visit in Ladakh in 2024
- Invest in disaster resilience today for safer tomorrow: PM Modi