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Friday, 18 March 2016

EU agrees migrant deal position to put to Turkey: Luxembourg PM

© AFP/File | Volunteers gesture to guide refugees and migrants on a dinghy as they approach Mytilene on the northern island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey on February 19, 2016
BRUSSELS (AFP) -  European Union leaders have agreed a common position to put to Turkey's Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in a bid to curb the migration crisis, Luxembourg's premier said at a Brussels summit early Friday.
"Agreement on EU position, @eucopresident will present it to Turkish Prime Minister before our EU Council tomorrow," Xavier Bettel wrote on Twitter, referring to European Council President Donald Tusk.
A senior EU official said it was "not a deal but a common position" that would allow negotiations to move forward, adding that Tusk had "understood everyone's red lines".
Talks are due to take place later Friday between Tusk and Davutoglu on a possible accord that would include measures designed to stem the flow of migrants coming to Greece from Turkey.
In return, Turkey wants an acceleration of its bid for EU membership, visa free travel for Turks to the EU and a doubling of EU aid for refugees in Turkey.
© 2016 AFP

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