Press Release: President Donald Tusk to visit Turkey

On 23 April 2016, President of the European Council Donald Tusk visited Turkey, along with EU Commissioner Frans Timmermans and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The objective of the visit was to take stock of the implementation of the 18 March EU-Turkey joint statement and discuss the next steps. Wider EU-Turkey cooperation was also on the agenda.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Managing the refugee crisis: Commission reports on implementation of EU-Turkey Statement http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-managing-the-refugee-crisis-commission-reports-on-implementation-of-eu-turkey-statement/

ESO: Background information: European Council, Brussels, 17 - 18 March 2016 http://www.europeansources.info/record/european-council-brussels-17-18-march-2016/

European Council: Statement, 23.04.16: Remarks by President Donald Tusk during his visit to Turkey http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2016/04/23-tusk-remarks-visit-gaziantep-turkey/

EurActiv, 25.04.16: Merkel warms up to ‘safe zones’ in Syria http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/merkel-warms-up-to-turkish-idea-of-safe-zones-in-syria/

EUObserver, 23.04.16: EU leaders' praise of Turkey triggers NGO anger https://euobserver.com/migration/133192

European Council: Press Release, 23.04.16: Remarks by President Donald Tusk on press freedom in Turkey http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2016/04/23-tusk-remarks-press-freedom-turkey/

BBC News, 23.04.16: Donald Tusk: 'Turkey best example of how to treat refugees' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-36122377

The Independent, 26.04.16: EU official Donald Tusk praises Turkey as world’s ‘best example’ for refugee aid despite human rights concerns http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/eu-donald-tusk-turkey-refugee-a6999021.html

Germany: Federal Government: News, 23.04.16: Angela Merkel in Turkey. EU-Turkey Agreement is making progress https://www.bundesregierung.de/Content/EN/Reiseberichte/2016/2016-04-23-merkel-tuerkei_en.html

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