Erdoğan’s Delicate Visit to Brussels / Europe needs Recep Tayyip ​​Erdoğan – but he will play hard-to-get / Turkey’s Erdogan mocks EU over refugees during Brussels trip

On 4-6 October 2015, the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, went to (Strasbourg and) Brussels on a long-planned state visit to Belgium. The trip occurred in the midst of a major international crisis, as Russia was getting in on the act in Syria and asylum seekers continued to surge toward Europe. The visit also came at a very troubled time in Turkey, where on 1 November 2015 a parliamentary election was due to be held amid a spiral of violence and a sharp deterioration of the rule of law.

This made for a rather difficult agenda when President Erdoğan met European Council President Donald Tusk, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, and European Parliament President Martin Schulz in Brussels.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Turkish general election, November 2015 http://www.europeansources.info/record/turkish-general-election-1-november-2015/

ESO: Background information: The renewed Turkey-PKK conflict has shattered the illusion that Kurds can participate legitimately in Turkey’s political system http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-renewed-turkey-pkk-conflict-has-shattered-the-illusion-that-kurds-can-participate-legitimately-in-turkeys-political-system/

ESO: Background information: Remarks by President Donald Tusk after his meeting with Prime Minister of Turkey Ahmet Davutoğlu / Pro-Kurdish leader warns of Turkey being dragged into civil war http://www.europeansources.info/record/statement-remarks-by-president-donald-tusk-after-his-meeting-with-prime-minister-of-turkey-ahmet-davutoglu-pro-kurdish-leader-warns-of-turkey-being-dragged-into-civil-war/

The Guardian, 04.10.15: Europe needs Recep Tayyip ​​Erdoğan – but he will play hard-to-get http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/04/europe-needs-recep-tayyip-erdogan-but-he-will-play-hard-to-get

EurActiv, 05.10.15: Erdogan brings Turkish election campaign to Strasbourg, Brussels http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/erdogan-brings-his-election-campaign-strasbourg-brussels-318213

Deutsche Welle, 04.10.15: EU, Turkey agree on refugee action plan: reports http://dw.com/p/1GiZY

EUObserver, 02.10.15: EU hopes Turkey summit to ease migrant crisis https://euobserver.com/migration/130532

Politico, 05.10.15: What Erdoğan wants from Europe http://www.politico.eu/article/what-erdogan-wants-from-europe-turkey-migration-refugee-crisis/

Euro|Topics: Main Focus, 05.10.15: Erdoğan and EU haggle over refugee policy http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER170899-Erdo-an-and-EU-haggle-over-refugee-policy

EUObserver, 05.10.15: Erdogan harangues EU at Strasbourg rally https://euobserver.com/justice/130544

EUObserver, 05.10.15: EU ministers prepare to resettle more Syrian refugees https://euobserver.com/migration/130555

Today's Zaman, 05.10.15: [Opinion]: Will the EU sacrifice all dreams for a democratic Turkey? http://www.todayszaman.com/columnist/yavuz-baydar/will-the-eu-sacrifice-all-dreams-for-a-democratic-turkey_400665.html

Politico, 05.10.15: EU recruits Erdoğan’s help on refugees http://www.politico.eu/article/eu-leaders-talk-turkey-erdogan-tusk-schulz-juncker-syria-refugees-migration/

European Council: Press Release, 05.10.15: Remarks by President Donald Tusk after his meeting with President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2015/10/05-tusk-meeting-turkey-president-erdogan/

EUObserver, 05.10.15: Turkey and EU start haggling on refugee crisis https://euobserver.com/justice/130559

EurActiv, 06.10.15: Erdogan tells EU: Act in Syria, or get ready to accept more refugees http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/erdogan-tells-eu-act-syria-or-get-ready-accept-more-migrants-318243

EurActiv, 05.10.15: Turkey's Erdogan mocks EU over refugees during Brussels trip http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/turkeys-erdogan-mocks-eu-over-refugees-during-brussels-trip-318233

ESO: Information Guide: European Migration Challenges http://www.europeansources.info/record/information-guide-european-migration-challenges/

Taraf, 06.10.15: Exodus to Europe: Turkey can't hold back migrants (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE171051-Exodus-to-Europe-Turkey-can-t-hold-back-migrants

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