TURKEY’S President Tayyip Erdogan has threatened Europe with sending three million migrants into Europe after claiming the EU is “not honest” in its promise to hand over £2.5billion (€3bn) in aid.
Erdogan claimed Turkey had only received a fraction of the money promised to them for taking in migrants sent back from Greece - stating they were given just a third of the €3bn promised.
But the Commission has hit back, saying the leader's allegations were "not true" as the full sum had been sent over.
The deal, and the promised cash, allows Europe to send Middle East refugees who arrived in Greece back to Turkey in exchange for political and financial freedom.
But the Turkish leader estimated Turkey has spent some £9.12billion (€10.9 bn) to help refugees since the start of the five-year civil war in Syria.
He added: "Ask them, did you pay? But Turkey still hosts 3 million people.
"What would Europe do if we let these people go to Europe.
"The European governments are not honest."
Margaritis Schinas, the Commission's chief spokesman, said: "The European Union is respecting its commitments and suggestions to the contrary are not true.
"The European Union has mobilised €3bn to help refugees in Turkey. Out of this, three-quarters of a billion, about €740m (£620m), has been already allocated."
Another allocation of £1.17bn (€1.4bn) was "to help refugees and host communities in Turkey, bringing the total allocated to £ 1.8bn (€2.15bn) before the end of the month".
Turkey has faced criticism from the EU in recent weeks following the failed military coup launched against Erdogan's government.
But the Commission has hit back, saying the leader's allegations were "not true" as the full sum had been sent over.
The deal, and the promised cash, allows Europe to send Middle East refugees who arrived in Greece back to Turkey in exchange for political and financial freedom.
But the Turkish leader estimated Turkey has spent some £9.12billion (€10.9 bn) to help refugees since the start of the five-year civil war in Syria.
He added: "Ask them, did you pay? But Turkey still hosts 3 million people.
"What would Europe do if we let these people go to Europe.
"The European governments are not honest."
Margaritis Schinas, the Commission's chief spokesman, said: "The European Union is respecting its commitments and suggestions to the contrary are not true.
Another allocation of £1.17bn (€1.4bn) was "to help refugees and host communities in Turkey, bringing the total allocated to £ 1.8bn (€2.15bn) before the end of the month".
Turkey has faced criticism from the EU in recent weeks following the failed military coup launched against Erdogan's government.
No comments:
Post a Comment