A number of European parliamentarians reportedly demanded the cessation of EU-funded aid to Turkey due to its aggressive policies.
Austrian politician Harald Philimsky called for cutting financial aid to Turkey and said “Ankara desperately wants to blackmail the European Union on the critical issue of illegal migration and refugees. The EU should not allow blackmai by an authoritarian regime”.
Philimsky recalled that the Turkish President had pushed thousands of migrants to the Turkish-Greek border in March, arguing this was a flagrant violation and an attempt to blackmail the European Union.
He claimed the Turkish government was exploiting the refugee crisis to receive funds estimated at $6 billion. In addition, an alleged agreement that would accelerate Turkey’s accession to the EU was agreed upon in 2016, he said.
He also praised the decisive security measures implemented by Greece to secure European borders.