EU confident 3 billion euros will be delivered to Turkey soon

The European Union assured Turkey on Jan. 25 that a package of three billion euros for Syrian refugees will soon be released, also stressing the need to further stem the influx of irregular migrants from Turkey to Europe before a key summit to take place on Feb. 18 in Brussels. 

"The talks are ongoing. I am very confident that the amount that was decided before will be there in very reasonable timing," EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini said at a press conference in Ankara after high-level political meetings with senior Turkish officials. 

Mogherini, European Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavu?o?lu and Turkish EU Minister Volkan Bozk?r came around the same table as part of enhanced political dialogue between Ankara and Brussels following the Nov. 29 joint statement. The EU delegation later met with President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an and Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu. 

"Today's high-level political dialogue is an essential element of our overall framework of dialogue and cooperation. It provided us with the opportunity to discuss issues high on both of our agendas in a comprehensive manner and that will feed into the preparation of the next EU-Turkey Summit," read a joint statement issued after the Jan. 25 meetings. 

One of the most urgent issues is the delivery of a financial aid worth 3 billion euros to Turkey to step up support for Syrian and other refugees in Turkey in exchange for the Turkish authorities cutting the illegal flow of migrants to Europe. Italy has blocked the release of the money because of an internal disagreement within the EU. Mogherini said she wanted to play down "this dramatic approach" over the issue, emphasizing that the funds were "not pocket money."  
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