EU leaders meet over migrant deal with Turkey

European leaders are meeting today in Brussels to agree on a deal with Turkey designed to stop the flow of refugees and illegal migrants coming to Europe.

European Council President Donald Tusk forecast difficult talks, saying any deal must be acceptable to all 28 member states and must fully comply with European and international law.

“The agreement must effectively help to solve the migration crisis and contribute to our comprehensive strategy, which includes getting back to Schengen, ending the wave-through policy, humanitarian assistance to Greece, support to the Western Balkans and of course the reinforced cooperation with Turkey,” Tusk said.

The proposed plan is based on a ‘one in, one out’ policy; for every person that Turkey accepts from Greece, a Syrian refugee would be resettled in Europe.

In exchange, the EU could provide Turkey with up to six billion euro (£4.75bn) to help the 2.7 million Syrian refugees there, and speed up EU membership talks and ease visa rules for Turkish citizens.

The draft agreement says the aim is “to break the business model of the (people) smugglers”. It stresses that the return is “a temporary and extraordinary measure which is necessary to end the human suffering and restore public order”.

The 28 EU national leaders will debate the detailed terms to offer Turkey over dinner and Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is due to join them for a breakfast tomorrow.

David Cameron is expected to warn fellow EU leaders of the possibility of a fresh wave of migration from Libya this summer.

Ministers have insisted that there are no plans for the UK to send troops or conduct air strikes in support of the new Government of National Accord announced in Libya at the weekend.

Mr Cameron vowed on Wednesday that he would seek the approval of the House of Commons for any deployment of “conventional” troops in comments which appeared not to rule out the use of special forces.