International

EU talks tough on migrants from Turkey, uneasy over rights

The European Union hopes a summit with Turkey on Monday can start putting an end to the chaotic arrivals of migrants in Greece and halt their treks through the Balkans toward Germany, diplomats said on Sunday.The meeting in Brussels will set out a tougher position on taking in migrants who reach Greece and formalise the closing of borders against those heading north from there. The EU leaders are also likely to tell Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu of their concern about human rights after the Turkish government seized control of a critical newspaper over the weekend.EU leaders will also reassure Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras of help housing thousands now stranded in Greece who hoped to follow the million that found refuge in Germany last year, diplomats said after a meeting of EU envoys on Sunday before the summit.An EU endorsement of recent border closures by Macedonia, Austria and other countries on the route north from Greece will be accompanied by a renewed commitment to revive stalled plans to redistribute asylum claimants around the 28 EU nations.A draft EU agreement will declare that the ‘West Balkan route is closed’, diplomats said, although they added the statement was likely to go through considerable redrafting.NATO said a new naval force in the Aegean secured approval for operating in Turkish and Greek waters. That will lend force to a new agreement by Turkey to take back migrants halted in its waters and those who reach Greek islands but fail to qualify for asylum in Europe.Meeting Davutoglu two days after his government seized control of Zaman, Turkey’s top-selling newspaper; EU leaders are torn between anger at Ankara’s action and fear of derailing Turkish willingness to stop migrants sailing for Greece.European Council President Donald Tusk, the former Polish premier who will chair Monday’s talks with Davutoglu, had barely left a meeting with President Tayyip Erdogan on Friday and declared cautious optimism on the migrant crisis when Istanbul police seized the newspaper.‘It’s a slap in the face,’ one senior EU official told Reuters after EU envoys met in Brussels on Sunday. ‘Erdogan wants obviously to show that he can do what he wants.’Diplomats close to that preparatory meeting said EU leaders will raise the issue with Davutoglu. But some fear that desire to see Turkey restrain departing migrants and take back those who make it to Greece will mute European support for Erdogan’s opponents.