EU turns to Turkey to help manage its migration woes

Volunteers help refugees approaching the coast of the northeastern Greek island of Lesbos onboard two dinghies after crossing the Aegean from a the Turkey's coast, on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2015. Several European countries, including EU members Slovenia and Croatia and non-members Serbia and Macedonia, have declared they will only allow "war-zone refugees" from Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria to transit through their countries on their way to central and northern Europe. (AP Photo/Santi Palacios) Volunteers help refugees approaching the coast of the northeastern Greek island of Lesbos onboard two dinghies after crossing the Aegean from a the Turkey's coast, on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2015. Several European countries, including EU members Slovenia and Croatia and non-members Serbia and Macedonia, have declared they will only allow "war-zone refugees" from Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria to transit through their countries on their way to central and northern Europe. (AP Photo/Santi Palacios)

By Associated Press November 27, 2015 4 min read

BRUSSELS (AP) – Five years ago, Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi warned that millions of Africans wanted to come to the European Union and offered to make the continent’s immigration problem disappear in exchange for billions of euros.

Despite Libyan rights abuses, Europe listened, and Italy signed a deal with the Gadhafi regime.

At a high-profile summit in Brussels Sunday, Europe’s leaders will offer Turkey 3 billion euros ($3.2 billion), an easing of visa restrictions and the fast-tracking of its EU membership process.

In exchange, Ankara is to tighten border security and take back some migrants who don’t qualify for asylum in Europe. EU money will help build centers to hold them.

The Europeans hope Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan – who will not attend the summit – can be their savior, yet disturbing questions remain over Turkey’s human rights record.