Germany’s gambit: Turkey and the refugee crisis

With domestic pressure over migration numbers growing in Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel is the EU leader most eager to engage with Turkey.

In January 2015 Chancellor Angela Merkel and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu agreed to hold regular government consultations in order to reflect the full spectrum of German-Turkish relations. The first such consultation took place on the 22 January 2016.

Turkey and Germany intended to cooperate more closely on the refugee problem, announced Chancellor Angela Merkel after the talks with Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu in Berlin. The two countries also agreed 'that we will stand up to terrorism'.

According to German newspaper Die Welt on the 30 January 2016 Turkey was now demanding €2bn more than the €3bn already pledged by the EU to help it cope with refugees.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: EU urges Turkey to do more, amid fresh talk of mini-Schengen http://www.europeansources.info/record/why-the-eus-refugee-relocation-policy-is-a-flop-eu-urges-turkey-to-do-more-amid-fresh-talk-of-mini-schengen/

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

ESO: Background information: Joint Statement following the High-Level Political Dialogue between the EU and Turkey http://www.europeansources.info/record/statement-joint-statement-following-the-high-level-political-dialogue-between-the-eu-and-turkey/

ESO: Background information: German coalition approves tighter asylum rules http://www.europeansources.info/record/german-coalition-approves-tighter-asylum-rules/

Germany: Federal Foreign Office: Foreign and European Policy: Global Issues: Refugee policy http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/EN/Aussenpolitik/GlobaleFragen/Fluechtlinge/Uebersicht_node.html

Germany: Federal Foreign Office: Bilateral relations: Turkey http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/EN/Aussenpolitik/Laender/Laenderinfos/01-Nodes/Tuerkei_node.html

Germany: Federal Government: News, 22.01.16: German-Turkish Consultations: Joining forces to address terrorism and illegal migration https://www.bundesregierung.de/Content/EN/Artikel/2016/01_en/2016-01-21-deutschland-tuerkei_en.html;jsessionid=6CFABCAA8CDFB77294606692D10DD3C0.s2t1?nn=393830

Germany: Federal Government: News, 22.01.16: Joint Communiqué - German-Turkish intergovernmental consultations, 22nd January 2016 https://www.bundesregierung.de/Content/EN/Pressemitteilungen/BPA/2016/2016-01-22-gemeinsame-erklaerung-deu-tur-konsultationen-englisch_en.html?nn=393830

Deutsche Welle, 30.01.16: Turkey wants more money from EU for refugee aid: report http://dw.com/p/1Hm8S

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