International security

‘Europe doesn’t need Turkey’

Angela Merkel shouldn’t have struck a deal on migrants as it has put her in a helpless situation, says Petr Bystron from the Alternative for Germany party (AfD). All Ankara wants it to get financial support; it doesn’t respect what was agreed, he adds.

The German Chancellor’s visit to Turkey is viewed by many as Merkel's attempt to save the deal - with the Chancellor saying Europe and Turkey need to reconcile their interests. At the summit she made it clear there won't be any shortcuts to a visa-free regime for Turkey - even though Ankara previously threatened to pull out of the deal

“I have made it clear that the implementation of a visa-free regime is based on 72 requirements and that we need the fulfillment of all of these conditions in order to grant visa-free travel [to Turkish citizens],” she said.

Turkey's incoming Prime Minister Binali Yıldırm said earlier that the EU needs to clarify how Turkey's membership prospects are looking.