Migrant Deal Off If No Visa-Free Travel, Turkey Warns EU

Afghan refugees struggle to swim ashore after their dinghy with a broken engine drifted out of control off the Greek island of Lesbos. (Photo: Reuters)

• Turkey’s PM has warned that the deal made with the EU to reduce migrant flows will be called off if Turkey’s citizens are not granted visa-free travel to most of the bloc.
  

We have told them ‘we are not threatening you’ but there’s a reality. We have signed two deals with you (the EU) and both are interlinked. This is not a threat but what is required from an agreement.

<b>Mevlut Cavusoglu, Turkish Foreign Minister</b>

• EU leaders are insisting that Turkey meet 72 conditions before the visa exemption is approved, including narrowing its definition of terror to stop prosecuting academics and journalists for “terror propaganda”.
  

• In the coming days, there will be expert-level talks between Turkey and the EU followed by a possible leaders summit involving Erdogan, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and top EU officials. A decision will be made by early July.
  

(With inputs from PTI)