EU, Turkey reach migration deal

Turkey promised to help stem the flow of refugees to Europe in return for cash, visas and renewed talks on joining the EU in a deal struck on Sunday that the Turkish prime minister called a "new beginning" for the uneasy neighbors.

Leaders of the European Union met Turkish premier Ahmet Davutoglu in Brussels on Sunday to finalize an agreement hammered out by diplomats over the past month, as Europeans struggle to limit the strain on their 28-nation bloc from taking in hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees.

A key element is €3 billion in EU aid for the 2.2 million Syrians now in Turkey. The money is intended to raise their living standards and so persuade more of them to stay put rather than attempt perilous crossings to the EU via the Greek islands.

The final offer of "an initial" €3 billion represents a compromise between the EU, which offered that sum over two years, and Turkey, which wanted it every year. Now the money, as French President Francois Hollande said, will be paid out bit by bit as conditions are met, leaving the total payout unclear.

"As Turkey is making an effort to take in refugees - who will not come to Europe - it's reasonable that Turkey receive help from Europe to accommodate those refugees," Hollande told reporters. He added that the deal should also make it easier to check refugees arriving and keep out those who pose a threat, like Islamic State militants who struck Paris two weeks ago.

Also on offer to Ankara, which wants to revive relations with its European neighbors after years of coolness as it faces trouble in the Middle East and from Russia, is a "re-energized" negotiating process on Turkish membership of the EU, even if few expect it to join soon.

Many Turks could also benefit from visa-free travel to Europe's Schengen zone within a year if Turkey meets conditions on tightening its borders in the east to Asian migrants and moves other benchmarks on reducing departures to Europe.

Prime Minister stresses importance of Turkey and Russia as strategic partners

Speaking at the summit on Sunday, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat pointed out the importance of Turkey and Russia as diplomatic partners of the European Union.

“Both countries are important strategic partners to the EU,” he said referring to the fact that relations between the two countries are at their lowest in recent memory, after Turkey shot down a Russian fighter jet near the Syrian border and the pilot was machine-gunned dead by rebels on the ground in Syria as he parachuted down, last week.

Muscat stressed that countries needed to work together and that the aim was not for the EU to pick a side, but to facilitate discussions and friendly relations between the two countries.

“At this particularly delicate moment in the world’s history, the last thing we need is two strategic partners bickering,” he said.

Muscat further explained that although the summit had focused primarily on migration stemming from the Syrian crisis, it would be a mistake to think Turkey was only important in this respect.

“We need to look at the issue of migration more broadly, although it is a very pressing issue,” he said, adding that the EU’s attitude towards the country should not be dedicated solely by migration.

Referring to the €3 billion in EU aid for the 2.2 million Syrians in the country, Muscat said that the time frames and where the funds would be coming from would essentially be further discussed and determined in the coming weeks.