EU should renew migration deal with Turkey: Borrell

The European Union will seek the renewal of the 2016 migration deal with Turkey, the EU foreign policy chief said on March 15. 

Speaking at a press conference following a joint meeting of EU foreign affairs and interior ministers, Josep Borrell said EU member states and institutions first among themselves and then later with Turkey had to discuss the renewal of engagement that the bloc and Turkey concluded.

The deal "has been very much criticized" but "has produced tangible results. It has led to a significant decrease of loss of human lives, a reduction in irregular crossings and improved the situation of refugees and migrants in Turkey," Borrell pointed out.

He also explained that under the deal, the EU had pledged €6 billion ($7.2 billion) in assistance for the refugees, and nearly all of the sum had already been contracted.

The EU foreign policy chief also stressed that the refugees were still in Turkey and "they continue to need our support."

The bloc's future relationship with Turkey will be partially based on the renewed agreement, he noted, adding "it is our common interest" to "prevent irregular migration, avoid losses of lives" and to "help Turkey to support the burden" in hosting "such a big amount of people on its territory."

The 2016 deal was reached to stop irregular refugee flows and to improve the conditions of Syrian refugees in Turkey.

Turkey is the largest host country for Syrian refugees and provides protection to 4 million people who fled the neighboring country.

EU leaders will discuss the future of EU-Turkey relations during their summit next week.