EU's
Juncker sees 'great risk' to migrant deal with Turkey: paper
World | Sat Jul 30, 2016
2:02pm EDT
European Commission
President Jean-Claude Juncker is concerned that a deal struck with
Turkey in March on handling a wave of migrants bound for Europe could
collapse, he told an Austrian newspaper.
"The risk is
great. The success of the pact so far is fragile. (Turkish) President
(Tayyip) Erdogan has several times hinted he wants to terminate the
agreement," Juncker told Kurier when asked if the pact could
fall apart.
If that happened,
"then you can expect that again refugees are standing at the
gates of Europe," he added in an interview published on
Saturday.
Turkey has so far
lived up to its side of the landmark deal with Brussels to stop
illegal migration to Europe via its shores, in return for financial
aid, the promise of visa-free travel to much of the bloc and
accelerated talks on membership.
But Ankara has
complained Europe is not living up to its side of the accord and has
alarmed EU leaders by cracking down on Erdogan's opponents,
especially in the wake of a failed coup on July 15-16.
Juncker reiterated
his concern about political developments in Turkey and repeated that
any move by Ankara to introduce the death penalty would lead to the
immediate breakdown of negotiations on joining the EU.
On other subjects,
Juncker said he was concerned about the state of play in EU members
as well.
"In Poland, the
rule of law is being battered by the Polish government's approach.
Elsewhere there are incidents which go to the heart of democracy.
I've been watching with concern preparations for the Hungarian
refugee referendum," he said, referring to a vote on whether to
take in migrants.
"If referendums
are now organized over every decision by the Council of Ministers and
the EU Parliament, then the rule of law is in danger. The Commission
would then actually - we are not there yet - open an infringement
procedure against Hungary."
Juncker said he was
not looking forward to the possibility of dealing with French
right-wing politician Marine Le Pen or U.S. Republican party nominee
Donald Trump as presidents of their countries.
"I would not
find that pleasant," he said when asked how he would feel if Le
Pen won the French presidential election next year and joined the
ranks of European leaders. He added: "I trust in French common
sense."
And on Trump, whose
America First campaign has stoked worries among European allies, he
said: "I have never met him, and also put no increased value on
meeting him permanently from January."
He called Democratic
president rival Hillary Clinton "a very serious and thoughtful
woman".
(Reporting by
Michael Shields; Editing by Richard Balmforth)
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