EU Leaders Extend Migration Summit to Discuss New Turkish Proposals

(L-R) European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, Turkish PM Ahmet Davutoglu, President of the European Council Donald Tusk, European Parliament President Martin Schulz speaking ahead of the EU-Turkey summit, Brussels, 7 March 2016. EPA/BGNES

European Union leaders extended their emergency summit on migration crisis in Brussels to Monday evening to discuss details of a new plan proposed by Turkey to stop a migrant wave, Reuters reported.

An EU official has told the newswire that the EU leaders needed “some clarifications” about the Turkish proposal and would ”work on it intensively in the coming days”.      

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is said to have asked for an additional EUR 3 B from the European Union to help Ankarastem the flow of migrants and refugees from its shores across the Aegean Sea to Europe. Turkey has also requested to bring forward visa-free travel for its citizens to the EU to June from end-2016 as planned earlier, and speed up the country's EU accession talks.

EU leaders were divided in their opinions about Turkey’s proposals.

"Several countries really like the idea but cannot accept a deal tonight because of the very short preparation time. They will welcome the higher ambition but they can't nail down all the points today," the EU official has told Reuters.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!