Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2015-12-02-Speech-1-025-000"
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"en.20151202.9.1-025-000"2
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"Mr President, in this crisis we are lurching from one day to the next, grasping at straws, not really getting to grips with the fundamental issues. Yes, it is good to have a summit with Turkey to discuss cooperation, and we welcome that, but there is a big difference between cooperating with Turkey and asking them to clear up our mess.
We feel under a humanitarian and moral obligation to help refugees from Syria who settle in neighbouring countries, and whatever we do will cost money, but we also need to be clear about the signal that we are going to send to those who want to come to the EU, whether they are coming as refugees or coming for economic reasons. So instead, the leader of a large Member State sends a signal that the EU is open to everyone, whether or not they are refugees, and then, when other EU countries struggle and erect borders between each other, EU leaders ask Turkey to play host instead on top of the millions that they already host.
This is unlikely to offer a long-term solution to the crisis and it will do nothing to stem the flows from the Balkan States. Yes, Turkey is a major important NATO ally of ours, but as Turkey’s ally, let us be more honest with them. Let us not pretend that EU membership is on the horizon. There are far too many people in the EU who will never accept Turkey for reasons including: pure prejudice against Turks and their faith; concerns over human rights; concerns over freedom of movement; concerns over the number of votes that they would have in Council and in Parliament; and concerns over EU borders being extended to Iraq, Iran and Syria.
So let us be clear to the Turks about what that relationship is, but let us also be clear to our voters what EU countries get in return for signing a visa-free agreement, and what we get in return for the EUR 3 billion that Turkey is demanding. And let us finally get to grips with some of the basics: a thorough registration process; a proper returns and readmissions agreement with countries in exchange for our aid; and effective external border controls. Let us work together to build long-term solutions, not offer short-term promises that will never be fulfilled."@en1
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