EU rejects Turkey’s blackmail over refugees

Ahmed Sami Abdel Fattah

Turkey and the EU are still at odds over a refugee agreement, which was signed in 2016. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened to open the Turkish borders to Syrian refugees who want to go to Europe. Turkey claims that Europe has not fulfilled its financial commitments. However, Europe says that it is providing funds as agreed upon.

In Berlin, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Monday that the EU would realize its commitments. Maas said migration was one of the bloc’s urgent issues.

Turkey is fully aware that the military situation in Syria is in favor of the Syrian national army. Therefore, Turkey is trying to use the refugees in a bid to pressure the EU to get its support in Syria.

Researcher Mohamed Hamed, an expert on Turkish affairs, said that the Erdogan regime is trying to blackmail Europe seeking to strengthen its reckless policies in Syria.

“Europe will take the Turkish threats seriously, and will take measures to reduce the ability of Turkey to threaten it with the refugees issue,” Hamed told THE REFERENCE.

Hamed added that the Turkish regime would hold the ceasefire in Idlib.

“However, if failed, Turkey would allow certain numbers of refugees to pass to Europe in an attempt to pressure the EU to reconsider the situation,” he said.