Turkey's European Union Minister said on Wednesday that the EU must fulfill its promises in the $3.1 billion deal with Turkey for stemming the flow of refugees into the bloc, Reuters reported.
Speaking to state-run news TRTHaber, EU Minister Volkan Bozkir said that Turkey had fulfilled its share of the deal, but that the EU must resolve its internal differences as to how and where to distribute funds for refugees. Last week European officials said that Italy was blocking plans to release the cash earmarked for the deal.
"The method (countries) will use regarding the deal is a matter of EU's internal affairs," Bozkir added.
The comments come at a time of increased pressure, particularly within Germany, to reduce the number of migrants arriving in Europe. Officials are saying that Turkey is not doing enough internally to prevent refugees from making the crossing over the Mediterranean Sea.
Over one million refugees arrived in Europe last year, and with the current rate of arrivals, could see another record year.
