Refugee Wrangling: Merkel's Deal with Turkey in Danger of Collapse

The conflict between Europe and Ankara over visa freedoms for Turkish citizens is escalating and Chancellor Merkel's refugee deal is in danger of collapse. Neither side is willing to back down. By SPIEGEL Staff

On Thursday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was standing on a stage in Ankara raging against the European Union. "Since when are you controlling Turkey?" he demanded. "Who gave you the order?" He then accused Brussels of dividing his country. "Do you think we don't know that?" It sounded as though he was laying the groundwork for a break with Europe.

Erdogan's fit of rage is only the most recent escalation in the conflict over German Chancellor Angela Merkel's refugee deal with Turkey. Thus far, officials in Berlin have been dismissing the Turkish president's tirades as mere theater. "Erdogan is following the Seehofer playbook," says one Chancellery official, a reference to the outspoken governor of Bavaria who has been extremely critical of Merkel's refugee policies.

But things aren't looking good for the deal, which the chancellor has declared as the only proper way to solve the refugee crisis. Indeed, Merkel's greatest foreign policy project is on the verge of collapsing.

The chancellor still hopes that Erdogan will stick to the refugee deal. A key element of that deal is visa-free travel to the EU for Turkish citizens, and Merkel believes that Erdogan's popularity would take a hit if that didn't come to pass. That's why she believes that Erdogan will come around in the end. - Read More at derspiegel

Refugee Wrangling: Merkel's Deal with Turkey in Danger of Collapse