Turkey wants the EU to help establish safe zones inside Syria for refugees, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu told a summit in Brussels on Monday aimed at reaching an agreement on how Ankara can help stem the flow of refugees to Europe. EU diplomats said Davutoğlu proposed that Turkey and the EU work together to set up humanitarian safe zones over the border in Syria. The proposal came during the prime minister’s talks with EU leaders about helping Ankara cope with the 2.7 million Syrian refugees now in Turkey. “Safe zones are being discussed,” said one EU diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity. * [GREECE-MACEDONIA-EUROPE-MIGRANTS] Also On Politico BALKAN ROUTE CLOSED, EU TO DECLARE Jacopo Barigazzi * [Prime Minister of Turkey Ahmet Davutoglu.] Also On Politico TURKEY DEMANDS EXTRA €3 BILLION OF EU HELP ON REFUGEES Maïa de La Baume According to one draft document circulating at the summit, a copy of which was obtained by Reuters, there would be cooperation “in any joint endeavour to establish humanitarian safe areas inside Turkey.” Davutoğlu also demanded from European leaders an effective doubling of EU assistance for Ankara to help cope with the refugees, to €6 billion, as well as rapid action on visa waivers for Turks traveling to Europe and a kickstart to long-stalled talks on Turkey’s long-term aspirations to join the European Union.
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