EU praises Turkey for housing of millions of refugees

“I would like, on behalf of the EU, to praise Turkey once again for its extraordinary hospitality and the great humanity that it has shown to these desperate people”, Avramopolos said at the eighth Bosphorus Summit in Istanbul.

Avramopolos said migration is not an Italian, Greek, Turkish or Syrian challenge but has become global, reports “Hurriyet Daily News”, Periscopi broadcast.

“Today, more than 65 million displaced people and more than 250 million international immigrants worldwide expect a global solution,” he said.

He said co-operation with all neighbours and key partners has become an essential pillar of Europe's comprehensive approach to migration.

“The results and success of the EU-Turkey declaration are an important example,” said Avramopoulos, referring to the March 2016 refugee agreement.

The March 2016 agreement was intended to discourage irregular migration through the Aegean Sea by taking stricter measures against human traffickers and improving the situation of Syrian refugees in Turkey.

Turkey currently houses about three million Syrian refugees, more than any other country in the world. The country has spent nearly $25 billion on refugee assistance and housing since the beginning of the Syrian civil war.

The deal included a six billion-dollar bailout package to help Turkey care for millions of expected refugees in the country.

“S together, we have managed to significantly reduce irregular and dangerous crossings, saving lives, which resulted in a drastic decline in the death toll of”, the commissioner said, adding that the EU also continues to support Turkey through the refugee institution in Turkey, worth three billion euros.

Thanks to this, nearly half a million Syrian children receive an education and about two million people are able to access health care”, Avramopolos said.. /Periscopi/