EU-Turkey Talks on Migration Action Plan Postponed over Ankara Blasts

European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker (R) speaks to the media as he welcomes Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the EU Commission HQ in Brussels, Belgium, 05 October 2015. EPA/BGNES

EU Commisioners Frans Timmermans and Johannes Hahn have postponed a scheduled visit to Turkey to discuss implementation of a recently unveiled Draft Action Plan on migration following Saturday’s deadly blasts in the country’s capital.

“In view of the tragic events that took place in Ankara yesterday, this visit on request of the Turkish authorities has now been postponed to respect the nation's three days of mourning,” the Commission announced in a statement on Sunday.

The Commission extended its condolences to the families of the victims and said it hoped to be able to reschedule the visit for Wednesday.

EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker presented the Draft Action Plan on support of refugees and migration management to Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Brussels on Monday.

The plan aims to help the Turkish government manage a very large influx of refugees, mainly from Syria, and prevent irregular migratory flows from the country to the EU.

Turkey started three days of mourning on Sunday after the two blasts that left at least 95 people dead and about 250 injured.

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said there was evidence that two suicide bombers had carried out the explosions during a peace rally.

The Turkish government, which faces a general election next month, has called the attack a "terrorist act" and rejected suggestions that it was to blame.

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