European Union–Turkey relations

Bulgaria has so far accepted 10 migrants from Italy and 50 from Greece under EU quotas, according to latest European Commission data, quoted by BTA. From Turkey there are no Syrian refugees accepted in our country, and our country has committed to shelter 160 people.

The upcoming Turkey-European Union (EU) summit in Bulgaria is a "very important step" in resolving issues between the EU and Turkey, according to a senior EU official on Wednesday.

The remarks came ahead of a key EU-Turkey summit set for March 26 in Varna, Bulgaria -- the current EU term president - that would bring together EU leaders and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The EU on March 14 unlocked a further 3 billion euros for refugees in Turkey, the second tranche of a 2016 deal to curb the flow of migrants coming to Europe.

The European Commission will approve additional € 3 billion in funding for Syrian refugees living in Turkey, officials from the European Union said before meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Varna later this month, Reuters reported.

Relations between the EU and Erdogan in recent years are tough, but the bloc depends on Turkey to stop immigration from the Middle East.

The Council of the EU will decide, at the last possible moment, whether the key meeting for the Bulgarian presidency with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Varna will take place. This was made clear by the statement of European Council President Donald Tusk, quoted by BTA.

The Turkish government has called on Europe to grant the perspective of EU membership to Turkey in the same way it has for the Balkan countries, the EU minister has said, criticizing the alliance for its continued double-standard on Turkey’s accession bid.

Turkey on Wednesday submitted to EU authorities a draft document for Turkish citizens to travel to Schengen countries visa-free, according to diplomatic sources, Anadolu Agency reports.

Turkey has submitted a proposal to overcome a longstanding stalemate over its definition of terrorism with the EU for the realization of visa-free travel for its nationals wanting to travel to the Schengen zone, ahead of an EU-Turkey summit in March, senior Turkish officials announced on Feb. 7.

Bulgaria's Black sea port of Varna will host a meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and EU heads on March 26, hosted by Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov - whose country now holds the rotational presidency of the Council of the EU.

An EU-Turkey Summit will be held on March 26 in Bulgaria with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expected to be attendance, an EU spokesman said Tuesday, New Europe writes.