First Vice-President Timmermans in Turkey for discussions on the refugee crisis

First Vice-President Timmermans visits Turkey for discussions on the Joint Action Plan to address the refugee crisis and delivers a speech on EU-Turkey relations.

First Vice-President Timmermans is visiting Turkey where he meets with Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Minister for European Affairs Mr Volkan Bozkir and Justice Minister Mr Bekir Bozdağ for discussions on the implementation of the EU-Turkey Joint Action Plan to address the refugee crisis.

The main purpose of this visit is to ensure that the implementation of the Joint Action Plan is carried out swiftly and effectively. In this respect, the Commission is now working with the Member States and with the Turkish authorities.

On Wednesday, First Vice-President Timmermans will brief the College of Commissioners on the outcome of these high level political meetings.

The EU-Turkey Joint Action Plan was agreed ad referendum on 15 October, and subsequently endorsed by the European Council. The Commission proposed on 24 November a €3 billion Refugee Facility for Turkey, and on 15 December presented a Recommendation for a Voluntary Humanitarian Readmission Scheme with Turkey for Refugees from Syria.

The First Vice-President will also speak with all Turkish ambassadors at their annual conference, on the topic of the EU-Turkey partnership.