LOC14:45
11:45 GMT
BRUSSELS, Nov 28 (KUNA) - The extraordinary European Union-Turkey summit in Brussels on Sunday provides an opportunity to strengthen EU-Turkey cooperation and contribute to managing the on-going migration crisis, according to an EU statement.
Discussions will focus on how to further develop EU- Turkey relations, and in particular the implementation of the joint Action Plan on migration.
The meeting should provide an occasion to make further steps in the areas of visa-liberalisation and implementation of readmission agreements, re-energising the EU accession process as well as stepping up the financial and political engagement of EU-Turkey relations, it noted.
The EU and Turkey are expected at Sunday's meeting to agree to hold regular summits, political dialogue meetings and discussions on cooperation on foreign and security policy, including on counter-terrorism.
However, analysts here opine that the shooting of a Russian military plane by Turkey last Monday is certain to come up for discussion in tomorrow's meeting.
They also note that the importance of the meeting is downgraded by the fact that President Recep Tayyap Erdogan is not coming himself but instead the Turkish side will be led by Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.
According to EU sources, the summit is expected to sign a 3-billion euro agreement in support of refugees being hosted by Turkey.
Turkey hosts over 2 million Syrian refugees who are now coming en masse to European countries like Germany and Sweden from Turkey via Greece.
Europe wants Turkey to take action to stop this influx of refugees.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte recently told reporters that "we need to stem the flow of migrants coming to Europe. We can't continue at the present level and we need Turkey for that."
Rumors are circulating in Brussels that EU might lift the Schengen visa requirement for Turkish citizens by the end of next year if Turkey succeeds in stopping the flow of illegal migrants to Europe.
The EU is also offering to open a new chapter in Turkey's accession negotiations. Any candidate country for EU membership has to adopt and implement 35 EU chapters or policy areas before it can join the European bloc. Till now only one chapter has been completed although EU-Turkey membership talks began in 2005. (end)
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