German Chancellor Angela Merkel Tuesday called on the EU and North African countries to do deals modelled on a controversial agreement with Turkey to stem migrant flows to Europe. The deal also pledges billions of euros in EU aid for Turkey, visa-free European travel for Turkish citizens and accelerated EU membership talks. “We must agree on similar deals with other countries, such as in North Africa, in order to get better control over the Mediterranean sea refugee routes,” Merkel told regional daily Neue Passauer Zeitung. Merkel also urged EU partners to step up to their responsibilities in taking in refugees who had arrived in Greece. Before the EU-Turkey deal took effect, some 45,000 refugees had already arrived in Greece as Macedonia closed its borders to the migrants.

Source: Hindustan Times August 23, 2016 09:22 UTC