Sky News — Proposals for a deal between Europe and Turkey on dealing with the migration crisis have hit their first obstacle, with a veto from Hungary.
Sky News understands the latest draft proposal says that Turkey will take back all migrants who arrive in Greece from a certain yet-to-be-determined date.
The second part of the deal would see the EU admitting genuine refugees on a one-for-one basis: every migrant Turkey takes back will mean that the EU will accept a refugee.
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu earlier told the talks in Brussels: “With these new proposals we aim to rescue refugees, discourage those who misuse and exploit their situation and find a new era in Turkey-EU relations.”
In exchange, Turkey would get €6bn to help Syrian refugees staying in the country, faster visa-free travel for its citizens and renewed talks aimed at granting its membership of the 28-country bloc.
But on Monday evening, a Hungarian government spokesman said prime minister Viktor Orbán had refused to support the deal.
The leaders are understood to be unable to agree on the proposals but are prepared to work on them over the coming days, according to an EU official quoted by Reuters news agency.
Sky News Europe Correspondent Mark Stone said: “It appears that the Turkish prime minister, on behalf of his president, has come to Brussels today to drive a particularly hard bargain.
“In practice, it’s hardly very achievable with the current number of arrivals. But it’s a neat way of sending a message to migrants and refugees not to come.”
Stone said Turkey wants to use the money to improve conditions for refugees remaining in the country.
“If it can get that money from the EU then the result of that will be to stem the flow, because these people will be happy to remain in Turkey, instead of coming to Europe.
“Turkey is asking for an awful lot and, for now at least, it’s something the EU cannot agree on.”
Prime Minister David Cameron said the UK would not be part of any of the migrant re-distribution plans.
The latest figures reveal that more than 125,000 migrants and refugees have arrived in Europe so far this year. It is estimated around 2,000 are crossing into Greece each day.
Former Foreign Secretary David Miliband told Sky News: “It is certainly not enough to believe that closing borders will remedy a situation where an appalling war without law and, seemingly, without end inside Syria is driving millions of people from their homes.
“The only way for this to work is if safe and legal routes to refugee status are established in the Middle East and Turkey, in Lebanon and Jordan.
“If conditions there are tolerable for people, including being allowed to work and contribute to the local society and a proper relocation plan for those who are inside Europe because no one European country can bear the whole of the burden or the disproportionate part of the burden.
“The key now with the agreement with Turkey is to ensure that that orderly approach is established for the first time because, frankly, until it is so, Europe will be playing catch-up.”
