(Bloomberg) — Talks between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the European Union over the fate of refugees in his country ended in failure, with Ankara accusing the bloc of not sticking to its earlier promises on financial assistance and visa-free travel for Turks.Neither side seemed happy with the result of a near two-hour meeting in Brussels on Monday. Erdogan left without speaking to the media and senior EU officials warned there was a lot still to discuss, as they demanded Turkey continue to implement their 2016 migrant deal.“We have different opinions on different things and that is why it is important to have a frank and open dialog,” European Council President Charles Michel told reporters. Officials from both sides will now work “to be certain we are on the same page,” he said.Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Tuesday fired back, saying the EU hadn’t delivered on key elements of that agreement, including funds to cover the cost of looking after a vast refugee population and granting Turkish citizens easier access to Europe.“It’s clear that the EU didn’t keep its promises,” Cavusoglu told state-run Anadolu news agency. “Time is up for stalling Turkey,” he said, signaling the government’s determination to push the EU on what’s become a key point of leverage since the 2015 migration crisis helped fuel populism and anti-EU sentiment across the bloc.Leaders MeetTensions between the sides flared as fierce fighting in northwestern Syria killed Turkish soldiers and threatened to send a new wave of refugees over the country’s southern frontier. Erdogan’s government publicly told millions of migrants and asylum seekers on its soil that it won’t stand in the way if they want to head for Europe. Turkey urged Greece to open its border.As thousands flocked toward the Greek border, clashes erupted with security forces seeking to hold them back and competing narratives faced off on social media.Cavusoglu said the EU should try and find a solution that can be discussed by country leaders when they meet on March 26, adding that Turkey also expects the bloc to help repatriate Syrian refugees and update customs relations with Turkey.In 2016, the EU struck a financial arrangement with Turkey that prevented displaced Syrians from entering the EU via Greece. It helped stop Europe’s biggest refugee influx since World War II.The EU pledged 6 billion euros ($6.8 billion) to help alleviate Turkey’s fiscal burden from hosting millions of Syrians. Turkey has so far received less than 3 billion euros, Cavusoglu said Tuesday, adding the government wants the EU to uphold all its promises.“It remains valid, and we need to implement missing elements,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, acknowledging that this was the EU’s responsibility as well as Turkey’s. “We have indicated to President Erdogan that we are willing to move forward as long as it is reciprocal.”–With assistance from Selcan Hacaoglu.To contact the reporters on this story: Ian Wishart in Brussels at [email protected];Firat Kozok in Ankara at [email protected] contact the editors responsible for this story: Ben Sills at [email protected], Mark Williams, Paul AbelskyFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.©2020 Bloomberg L.P.
