Italian Minister Accuses Turkey of Not Fulfilling Migrant Deal Despite EU Money

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said Monday that Turkey was not fulfilling its agreement with the European Union to help curb migration to Europe, despite Ankara having received financial aid that was promised under the deal, pointing out that 1,200 migrants had arrived to Italy from Turkey since the beginning of 2018.

"Since the start of the year 1,200 immigrants have arrived by sea from Turkey. To control immigration the EU is giving six billion euros to Turkey. Something's not right, is someone not doing what they should be doing?" Salvini said as quoted by the Ansa news agency.

READ MORE: Lega: Turkey Should Use EU Money From Migration Deal to Create Reception Centers

The European Union, in an effort to deal with the overflow of Syrian refugees fleeing to member states, concluded a migration deal with Turkey in 2016.

According to the deal, the sides agreed that Syrian refugees arriving in Greece would be returned to Turkey if their claim for asylum was rejected, while Syrian asylum seekers in Turkey would be resettled in Europe on a one-for-one basis.

Brussels, in turn, vowed to provide financial aid to the country to cover the costs of migrant reception, among other measures.

However, the Turkish authorities have repeatedly complained that the European Union has been failing to provide the promised funds and about the lagging speed of transfers.