EU, Turkish leaders close in on migration deal

(BRUSSELS) - The EU and Turkey closed in Friday on a crucial deal to curb the huge flow of migrants to Europe despite Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu warning that he would not bargain over the fate of refugees.

Davutoglu and European Council President Donald Tusk were hammering out the details of an accord under which Turkey would start take back all new migrants who arrive in Greece.

But the deal comes at a heavy cost for Europe, with many members of the 28-nation bloc expressing misgivings about the legality of the deal and Turkey's rights record.

"For Turkey, the refugee issue is not an issue of bargaining but an issue of values, humanitarian values as well as European values," Davutoglu told reporters as he arrived for the summit.

In Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan blasted several EU states for taking only a "handful of refugees" in contrast to the nearly three million Turkey has admitted, most of them fleeing the Syrian war.

Erdogan also accused the Europeans of supporting the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) days after a bombing in Ankara claimed by Kurdish rebels that killed 35 people, and warned they faced similar attacks.

"European countries are paying no attention, as if they are dancing in a minefield," he said.

- 'Hopeful' on deal -

Despite the tough talk there were signs of progress, as Tusk later called a meeting of all 28 EU leaders to update them on his talks with Davutoglu before the Turkish premier met with his counterparts, Tusk's spokesman said.

Estonian Prime Miniser Taavi Roivas said he was "hopeful that this can be done by tonight" and that the return of migrants to Turkey should start immediately.

Turkey has demanded an acceleration of its long-stalled bid for EU membership, the doubling of refugee aid to six billion euros ($6.8 billion) and visa-free travel in return for taking back all new irregular migrants coming to Greece, the main entry point to Europe.

Under the terms of the plan, the European Union would take in one Syrian refugee from Turkish soil in exchange for every Syrian readmitted to Turkey from Greece, a move meant to discourage them from risking their lives in smugglers boats.

More than 1.2 million migrants have come to Europe since January 2015 in the continent's biggest migration crisis since World War II, and around 4,000 have drowned while trying to cross the Aegean Sea.

The EU official said the "main sticking points" in the talks were over the deal's legality, Turkey's membership bid, the date for launching the deal and a plan to double the amount of aid Turkey gets to six billion euros ($6.8 billion).

Many European Union states have expressed concerns about Ankara's human rights record, including its treatment of the Kurds and a crackdown on critics of the government.

The United Nations and rights groups fear the deal could violate international law that forbids the mass deportation of refugees.

Amnesty International set up a sign outside the summit venue: "Don't trade refugees".

The crisis has left Europe increasingly divided, with fears that its Schengen passport-free zone could collapse as states reintroduce border controls and concerns over the rise of populism and anti-immigrant sentiment.

Despite misgivings among fellow EU leaders about the legality of the deal, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said it was a "good opportunity" but demanded "preconditions".

- 'Modern-day Dachau' -

A senior EU official said: "No one is proud of this deal, but we have no alternative."

One major hurdle that appeared to have been overcome was opposition from Cyprus, rooted in long-standing tensions with Turkey over Ankara's refusal to recognise its government on the divided island.

Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades indicated he could be ready to "compromise" on his objections to the EU opening new "chapters" in Turkey's accession process.

The deal also envisages major aid for Greece, where tens of thousands of refugees are trapped in dire conditions after Balkan countries shut their borders to stop them heading north to richer Germany and Scandinavia.

Greek Interior Minister Panagiotis Kouroublis described the overwhelmed border town of Idomeni where thousands of migrants are camped out as a "modern-day Dachau".

British Prime Minister David Cameron was also hosting a meeting with Merkel and several other EU leaders on how to tackle migration flows from lawless Libya, which appeared to be increasing again.

Around 330,000 people have reached Italy via Libya since the start of 2014.