ANKARA: Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann expects the European Union and Turkey to strike a deal on how to stem a tide of refugees into the continent in return for financial aid and closer ties, he told the Kurier paper.
European and Turkish officials have been working to smooth out their remaining differences on an agreement, which they hope will be signed on Sunday by EU leaders and Turkey’s prime minister.
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Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has broadly accepted a draft plan under which the EU would provide 3 billion euros ($3.18 billion) in aid over two years for the 2.3 million Syrian refugees in Turkey. It would also “re-energize” talks on Ankara’s joining the bloc and ease visas for Turks.
“Turkey now wants 3 billion a year to invest the money in schools and accommodation. We will meet somewhere in the middle,” Faymann, a Social Democrat who governs with conservative coalition partners, was quoted as saying.
He said the money should be spent primarily for housing and schools and that the EU would sign off on payments only after reviewing each project.
Noting Erdogan’s push for EU membership, Faymann noted Vienna’s stance that this would have to be put to a referendum in Austria that would likely fail. He said talks should focus instead on a “a privileged partnership” with Turkey.
