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Migrant crisis: EU and Turkey hold 'difficult' summit Migrant crisis: EU and Turkey hold 'difficult' summit
(about 1 hour later)
European Union leaders are holding a crucial summit with Turkey on ways of dealing with Europe's worst refugee crisis since World War Two.European Union leaders are holding a crucial summit with Turkey on ways of dealing with Europe's worst refugee crisis since World War Two.
The EU is pressing Turkey, through which many migrants transit, to take some back in return for $3.3bn in aid.The EU is pressing Turkey, through which many migrants transit, to take some back in return for $3.3bn in aid.
The Brussels talks have been extended into a working dinner between the 28 EU leaders and Turkish PM Ahmet Davutoglu.The Brussels talks have been extended into a working dinner between the 28 EU leaders and Turkish PM Ahmet Davutoglu.
Meanwhile Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused the EU of failing to deliver on the promised aid.Meanwhile Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused the EU of failing to deliver on the promised aid.
"It's been four months," Mr Erdogan said in Ankara. "My prime minister is currently in Brussels. I hope he will return with the money.""It's been four months," Mr Erdogan said in Ankara. "My prime minister is currently in Brussels. I hope he will return with the money."
Turkey is currently sheltering more than 2.5 million refugees from the civil war in neighbouring Syria.Turkey is currently sheltering more than 2.5 million refugees from the civil war in neighbouring Syria.
The EU wants it to take back thousands of migrants who do not qualify for asylum. In return Turkey is seeking full access for its citizens across the EU's visa-free zone and accelerated talks on EU membership. The EU wants Turkey to take back migrants who do not qualify for asylum and do more to patrol its own waters.
In exchange for this, the Turkish government is reportedly asking for more EU money, a faster path to towards EU membership, as well as speeding up plans to allow Turks visa-free travel in Europe.
Read more about the migrant crisisRead more about the migrant crisis
Last year, more than a million people entered the EU illegally by boat, mainly going from Turkey to Greece.Last year, more than a million people entered the EU illegally by boat, mainly going from Turkey to Greece.
Many migrants leave Greece in an attempt to reach northern Europe, but eight countries have introduced temporary border controls.Many migrants leave Greece in an attempt to reach northern Europe, but eight countries have introduced temporary border controls.
Some 13,000 migrants are currently stranded in northern Greece, after Macedonia closed its border to all but a trickle.Some 13,000 migrants are currently stranded in northern Greece, after Macedonia closed its border to all but a trickle.
The future of the Schengen agreement - which allows passport-free travel in a 26-nation zone - is on the agenda, as the leaders are anxious to save a system thought to bring billions of euros to Europe's economy every year.
'Solid opt-out''Solid opt-out'
The summit was initially due to be in two parts - the first session from 12:00 GMT involving Turkey, while in the afternoon EU leaders will seek to reach a common approach.The summit was initially due to be in two parts - the first session from 12:00 GMT involving Turkey, while in the afternoon EU leaders will seek to reach a common approach.
After the talks started, however, the EU announced that a working dinner would be added to discuss "new ideas" on the crisis offered by Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. After the talks started, however, the EU announced that a working dinner would be added to discuss "new ideas" offered by Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.
Ahead of the talks, Mr Davutoglu said Turkey was "indispensable" for the EU, just as Europe was for Turkey. Earlier, Mr Davutoglu said Turkey was "indispensable" for the EU, just as Europe was for Turkey.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she anticipated a "difficult discussion", as a rift emerged among EU powers on the closure of the main route through the Balkans.German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she anticipated a "difficult discussion", as a rift emerged among EU powers on the closure of the main route through the Balkans.
A draft summit communique reported by journalists on Sunday declared that "irregular flows of migrants along the Western Balkans are coming to an end; this route is closed".A draft summit communique reported by journalists on Sunday declared that "irregular flows of migrants along the Western Balkans are coming to an end; this route is closed".
But Mrs Merkel said: "Today is about finding a lasting solution together with Turkey... trying to find a way to stop illegal migration and improving the living conditions for the refugees."But Mrs Merkel said: "Today is about finding a lasting solution together with Turkey... trying to find a way to stop illegal migration and improving the living conditions for the refugees."
A German government source told the BBC there was no point saying the route was closed when 300-500 people still arrived in Germany every day this way.A German government source told the BBC there was no point saying the route was closed when 300-500 people still arrived in Germany every day this way.
Analysis: Chris Morris, BBC News, BrusselsAnalysis: Chris Morris, BBC News, Brussels
This summit has hardly started and already it has been extended. There will be a second session with Prime Minister Davutoglu and all 28 EU leaders over dinner.This summit has hardly started and already it has been extended. There will be a second session with Prime Minister Davutoglu and all 28 EU leaders over dinner.
The EU is asking for a lot from Turkey, and Turkey is now asking for more in return. Hence the irony that the fate of the EU's migration policy, and its future cohesion, lies in the hands of a country it has been keeping at arms length for years.The EU is asking for a lot from Turkey, and Turkey is now asking for more in return. Hence the irony that the fate of the EU's migration policy, and its future cohesion, lies in the hands of a country it has been keeping at arms length for years.
Without active Turkish co-operation, there is no chance of reducing the flow of refugees and migrants arriving in the Greek islands. And without that happening, the rest of the policy starts falling to pieces.Without active Turkish co-operation, there is no chance of reducing the flow of refugees and migrants arriving in the Greek islands. And without that happening, the rest of the policy starts falling to pieces.
UK PM David Cameron said there was "no prospect of Britain joining a common asylum process in Europe".UK PM David Cameron said there was "no prospect of Britain joining a common asylum process in Europe".
"We have an absolutely rock-solid opt-out from these things," he said."We have an absolutely rock-solid opt-out from these things," he said.
EU leaders are also likely to raise the issue of the Zaman newspaper. On Friday, a Turkish court ordered the seizure of the opposition journal, increasing fears for media freedom. Two days later it was publishing pro-government articles.
The EU said last October it would relocate 160,000 asylum seekers, mainly from Greece and Italy, but there was strong opposition among some members and fewer than 700 migrants have moved.The EU said last October it would relocate 160,000 asylum seekers, mainly from Greece and Italy, but there was strong opposition among some members and fewer than 700 migrants have moved.
The union may now overhaul its Dublin Regulation, which requires asylum seekers to lodge claims in their EU country of arrival, and instead adopt a centralised system for processing applications.The union may now overhaul its Dublin Regulation, which requires asylum seekers to lodge claims in their EU country of arrival, and instead adopt a centralised system for processing applications.
The future of the Schengen agreement - which allows passport-free travel in a 26-nation zone - will also be on the agenda. Eight members have introduced temporary border controls, and EU leaders will be anxious to save a system thought to bring billions of euros to Europe's economy every year. EU leaders were also expected to raise the issue of the Zaman newspaper. On Friday, a Turkish court ordered the seizure of the opposition journal, increasing fears for media freedom. Two days later it was publishing pro-government articles.
'All we do is sleep''All we do is sleep'
More than 2,000 migrants, mostly from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, continue to arrive daily in Greece from Turkey.More than 2,000 migrants, mostly from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, continue to arrive daily in Greece from Turkey.
The Idomeni crossing on the Greece-Macedonia border has become the latest focus of the migrant crisis.The Idomeni crossing on the Greece-Macedonia border has become the latest focus of the migrant crisis.
One camp resident, Syrian refugee Narjes al Shalaby, told AP news agency: "All we do here is sleep, wake up, sleep," she said. "We get hungry, we wait in the queue for two hours for a sandwich, we come back, we sleep some more."One camp resident, Syrian refugee Narjes al Shalaby, told AP news agency: "All we do here is sleep, wake up, sleep," she said. "We get hungry, we wait in the queue for two hours for a sandwich, we come back, we sleep some more."
Separately, Nato says it is expanding its naval mission against people-smuggling in the Aegean Sea to cover Turkish and Greek territorial waters.Separately, Nato says it is expanding its naval mission against people-smuggling in the Aegean Sea to cover Turkish and Greek territorial waters.
EU Commission spokesperson for migration Natasha Bertaud told the BBC all migrants rescued in Greek waters would be taken to a Greek island and screened.EU Commission spokesperson for migration Natasha Bertaud told the BBC all migrants rescued in Greek waters would be taken to a Greek island and screened.
All economic migrants would then be returned to Turkey to be screened again and "if they have no right to international protection" sent back to their country of origin.All economic migrants would then be returned to Turkey to be screened again and "if they have no right to international protection" sent back to their country of origin.
All migrants rescued by Nato in Turkish waters would be taken back to Turkey.All migrants rescued by Nato in Turkish waters would be taken back to Turkey.
A note on terminology: The BBC uses the term migrant to refer to all people on the move who have yet to complete the legal process of claiming asylum. This group includes people fleeing war-torn countries such as Syria, who are likely to be granted refugee status, as well as people who are seeking jobs and better lives, who governments are likely to rule are economic migrants.A note on terminology: The BBC uses the term migrant to refer to all people on the move who have yet to complete the legal process of claiming asylum. This group includes people fleeing war-torn countries such as Syria, who are likely to be granted refugee status, as well as people who are seeking jobs and better lives, who governments are likely to rule are economic migrants.