EU changes its strategy to get Turkey onboard with the refugee issue

For the first time in the decade long membership conflict between the EU and Turkey, the EU has felt the need to seek Turkey’s help in resolving the European refugee crises. Turkey’s critical stance remains a major concern for the European Union urging a change in strategy that has lead to a new action plan to win the country’s cooperation in stemming the unprecedented flow of refugees and migrants across borders.

The plan was proposed on Friday during a summit meeting of EU leaders in Brussels. The meeting concluded with an agreement to provide political support, including 3 billion Euros ($3.4 billion USD) in aid, to help Turkey manage the current refugee emergency. However, the response from the member countries has been disappointingly slow as they are conflicted over whether to help the migrants or Turkey.

At the same time, Turkey’s President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, continues to criticize the EU for not handling the refugee situation in the most tactful manner. Turkey’s current stance against the EU on a number of issues remains one of the major hurdles in securing Turkey’s agreement, which according to EU President, Donald Tusk, “is a demanding and difficult issue.”

President Erdogan, in his speech this Friday, digressed from addressing the EU offer and continued to throw accusations regarding EU’s biased and insincere attitude towards Turkey and its membership.

According to Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey’s efforts have gone unnoticed and unappreciated despite being far ahead of most countries. President Erdogan criticized the news that German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, is being favored for the Nobel Peace Prize for opening Germanies borders to the Syrian refugees while Turkey does not receive any praise for embracing more than 2 million refugees.

“We have 2.5 million refugees, no one cares,” said Erdogan.

President Erdogan is not wrong in his claims as Turkey stands as the major host with the highest number of refugees in the world. However, a shortage of funds remains a huge problem in providing appropriate shelter and provision to hundreds and thousands of refugees who fail to find accommodation in the refugee camps. Fending for themselves, many attempt to cross borders entering the neighboring EU countries. During the current crisis this year, more than 600,000 new migrants have arrived in Europe seeking refuge and a secure future.

The exchange of accusations is not one-sided as EU leaders had their own reservations with regards to the way Erdogan’s is handling the media, the justice system, and the Kurdish minority. Both parties have been debating looser visa rules, which are finally proposed in the plan.

If they reach an agreement, the plan will bind Turkey to several terms that may prove helpful in containing the flow of refugees. The country will have to review the asylum and documentation procedures and increase the number forces on its coast and borders.

Not to mention, Turkey has its own set of demands that include establishment of a no-fly zone and safe area in northern Syria as it will create a safe haven for the refuges preventing them from leaving. EU and UN Security Council are both positively looking into the matter.

The details of the demands have yet to be publically reseeded by the Turkish officials who are still skeptical about the amount being large enough to ‘shoulder the responsibility’.