Merkel: Germany willing to boost refugee assistance in Turkey

Turkey needs assistance in many areas for the security of 3.5 million people. “I am ready for this”, she said after meeting with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic during the European People's Party congress in Zagreb.

In an agreement with the EU from 2016, Turkey pledged to engage in efforts to prevent migrants from reaching the Greek Aegean islands and to accept the return of migrants, whose asylum requirements in Europe have been rejected.

In return, the EU promised 6 billion euros in Turkish aid. The bloc stressed it has already distributed 5.6 billion euros.