The summit of the European Council and the prime minister of Turkey on the migration crisis

A summit of the European Council and Turkey, which was represented by Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, was held on 29 November 2015 in Brussels. The summit was devoted to developing a plan to resolve the migration crisis. A joint statement consisting of eleven points was adopted as a result of the meeting. Its most important provisions include: consent for aid worth 3 billion euros to be offered to Turkey, the plan to cyclically convene EU-Turkey summits twice a year, the launch of the final phase of the visa liberalisation process for Turkish citizens, opening one of the chapters in Turkey’s pre-accession negotiations with the EU in December, and preparations to open more chapters in 2016. Turkey undertook to halting the passage of the economic migrants residing in its territory and to offer assistance to Syrian refugees in compliance with agreements previously signed with the EU. The summit was another stage of the intense EU-Turkish dialogue, but it did not mark any breakthrough, and its decisions are not binding on any of the parties.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background Information: International Summit: Meeting of the EU heads of state or government with Turkey, Brussels, 29 November 2015 http://www.europeansources.info/record/international-summit-meeting-of-the-eu-heads-of-state-or-government-with-turkey-brussels-29-november-2015/

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

European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: STATEMENT/15/6194, 29.11.15: Meeting of heads of state or government with Turkey - EU-Turkey statement, 29/11/2015 http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-15-6194_en.htm

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