President Erdogan claimed the EU was not honest
Erdogan
claimed Turkey had only received a fraction of the money promised to
them for taking in migrants sent back from Greece - stating they were
given just a third of the €3bn promised.
But the Commission has hit back, saying the leader's allegations were "not true" as the full sum had been sent over.
The deal, and the promised cash, allows Europe to send Middle East refugees who arrived in Greece back to Turkey in exchange for political and financial freedom.
But the Turkish leader estimated Turkey has spent some £9.12billion (€10.9 bn) to help refugees since the start of the five-year civil war in Syria.
Turkey has spent some £9.12billion to help refugees He added: "Ask them, did you pay? But Turkey still hosts 3 million people.
"What would Europe do if we let these people go to Europe.
"The European governments are not honest."
Turkey is supposed to take on migrants in exchange for money
But Erdogan says the EU have not kept to their end of the deal
Margaritis Schinas, the Commission's chief spokesman, said:
"The European Union is respecting its commitments and suggestions to the
contrary are not true.
"The European Union has mobilised €3bn to help refugees in Turkey. Out of this, three-quarters of a billion, about €740m (£620m), has been already allocated."
Another allocation of £1.17bn (€1.4bn) was "to help refugees and host communities in Turkey, bringing the total allocated to £ 1.8bn (€2.15bn) before the end of the month".
Turkey has faced criticism from the EU in recent weeks following the failed military coup launched against Erdogan's government.
After promising a debate on reinstating the death penalty, Erdogan was warned the move could hamper his country's chances of ever joining the EU in the future.
But despite the high tensions, EU officials have said they will stand by all terms of the deal - despite many questioning Turkey's commitment to democracy.
Schinas added: "The EU continues to fulfill its commitments under the EU-Turkey statement, including when it comes to funding under the facility for refugees scheme.
"We expect the same from the Turkish side, and we all expect that our cooperation on migration and refugees continues."
She also noted the money promised under the deal was being allocated to benefit "refugees and the host communities in Turkey, not for the government".
Source: http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/693706/Turkey-President-Erdogan-migrant-crisis-Europe
But the Commission has hit back, saying the leader's allegations were "not true" as the full sum had been sent over.
The deal, and the promised cash, allows Europe to send Middle East refugees who arrived in Greece back to Turkey in exchange for political and financial freedom.
But the Turkish leader estimated Turkey has spent some £9.12billion (€10.9 bn) to help refugees since the start of the five-year civil war in Syria.
"What would Europe do if we let these people go to Europe.
"The European governments are not honest."
Turkey still hosts 3 million people. What would Europe do if we let these people go to Europe.
President Erdogan
"The European Union has mobilised €3bn to help refugees in Turkey. Out of this, three-quarters of a billion, about €740m (£620m), has been already allocated."
Another allocation of £1.17bn (€1.4bn) was "to help refugees and host communities in Turkey, bringing the total allocated to £ 1.8bn (€2.15bn) before the end of the month".
Turkey has faced criticism from the EU in recent weeks following the failed military coup launched against Erdogan's government.
But despite the high tensions, EU officials have said they will stand by all terms of the deal - despite many questioning Turkey's commitment to democracy.
Schinas added: "The EU continues to fulfill its commitments under the EU-Turkey statement, including when it comes to funding under the facility for refugees scheme.
"We expect the same from the Turkish side, and we all expect that our cooperation on migration and refugees continues."
She also noted the money promised under the deal was being allocated to benefit "refugees and the host communities in Turkey, not for the government".
Source: http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/693706/Turkey-President-Erdogan-migrant-crisis-Europe