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Migrant numbers from Turkey to EU 'far too high'

03 March 2016, 18:43 CET
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Migrant numbers from Turkey to EU 'far too high'

Tusk - Davutoglu - Photo EU Council

(ANKARA) - The number of migrants crossing the Aegean Sea from Turkey to EU territory remains "far too high", EU President Donald Tusk said after talks with Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Ankara on Thursday.

"We agree that the refugee flows still remain far too high and that further action is needed," Tusk said, while praising Turkey for its growing cooperation including more coastguard patrols and a tightening of its visa regime.

"It is for Turkey to decide how best to achieve such a reduction," Tusk said.

Without elaborating further, Tusk floated the idea of a major operation to ship migrants with no right to stay in the EU back to Turkey, smashing the people-smuggler rackets.

"To many in Europe, the most promising method seems to be a fast and large scale mechanism to ship back irregular migrants arriving in Greece," he said.

"It would effectively break the business model of smugglers."

Tusk met Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Ankara after a trip to Greece, which is on the frontline of Europe's worst migration crisis since World War II.

The visit comes ahead of a Monday summit between the EU and Turkey, the main launch pad for hundreds of thousands of refugees and migrants, including many from Syria.

Tusk welcomed Turkish actions which he said included the "stepped up efforts of the Turkish coast guard, intensified police controls to combat human trafficking and the tightening of visa requirements."

In a key step, Turkey has in recent months stiffened visa rules for Syrian, Iraq and other nationals, making it much harder for them to travel to Turkey via third countries.

For his part, Davutoglu said: "Neither Turkey nor Europe are responsible for the Syrian crisis. But it is Turkey and the EU which are paying the price."

The Turkish premier reaffirmed Ankara's commitment to the joint action plan with the EU to curb the number of migrants reaching the member states.


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immigration

Posted by LYN WICK at 04 March 2016, 13:30 CET
immigration is marvelous and vital to countries ,but it needs regulation .True refugee status of families .What is Europe going to do with thousands of illiterate economic migrants that have arrived from civilization that treat women disrespectfully ? Rapes from migrants are on the increase in the UK, Islamic cleric who raped an 11 year old girl was stopped by the courts from the prison sentence as the whole family was on benefits and he was the only one who could understand English to claim benefits .We cannot be divided by justice ,a criminal is a criminal and should have the same punishment regardless. Rotherham England 14000 children repeatedly raped and threatened with their lives and that of their families lives ,calling a little girl ,white slut ,as she had been gang raped by men 30 years older and the girl injured on the floor crying ,we have horrendous stories unfolding .The culture and beliefs of these people and their hate for the west are very hard for us to tolerate ,they will not mix with us ,we cannot smile as we walk passed without being called a slut ,us western women are sluts as we are not covered. Luton London is one of many towns where the only description is attacking like pack animals and it is lawless no go area .There are at least 85 Sharia courts in England ,they do not respect UK Law .I am all for diversity and a mixture of cultures ,religions but it is very hard to mix with people who despise you and want the east culture to control our country.

immigration

Posted by LYN WICK at 04 March 2016, 13:30 CET
immigration is marvelous and vital to countries ,but it needs regulation .True refugee status of families .What is Europe going to do with thousands of illiterate economic migrants that have arrived from civilization that treat women disrespectfully ? Rapes from migrants are on the increase in the UK, Islamic cleric who raped an 11 year old girl was stopped by the courts from the prison sentence as the whole family was on benefits and he was the only one who could understand English to claim benefits .We cannot be divided by justice ,a criminal is a criminal and should have the same punishment regardless. Rotherham England 14000 children repeatedly raped and threatened with their lives and that of their families lives ,calling a little girl ,white slut ,as she had been gang raped by men 30 years older and the girl injured on the floor crying ,we have horrendous stories unfolding .The culture and beliefs of these people and their hate for the west are very hard for us to tolerate ,they will not mix with us ,we cannot smile as we walk passed without being called a slut ,us western women are sluts as we are not covered. Luton London is one of many towns where the only description is attacking like pack animals and it is lawless no go area .There are at least 85 Sharia courts in England ,they do not respect UK Law .I am all for diversity and a mixture of cultures ,religions but it is very hard to mix with people who despise you and want the east culture to control our country.