Erdogan mocked EU leaders, The Telegraph reports
According to The Telegraph, the European side led by the European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker tried to strike a EUR 3 billion deal that would allow Turkey to stem the refugees flow to Europe on October 5, 2015.
According to The Telegraph’s “leaked” information, Erdogan declined Juncker’s offer with an ironical smile, stating that Turkey didn’t want EU money.
“Erdogan said that Turkey didn’t need EU money. He added that Turkey could open the doors to Greece and Bulgaria any time and put the refugees on buses,” writes the Telegraph .
EU and Turkish official sources refused to confirm or deny this information.
The leaked information also mentions a view supported by European officials that Erdogan keeps a great number of refugees in Turkey to use them in negotiations with EU in exchange for visa-free travel to the EU and renewed accession talks.
Turkish President openly mocked the European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and the European Council President Donald Tusk.
“So how will you deal with refugees if you don’t get a deal?” asked Erdogan the European officials.
The Telegraph observes that at the end of the tense meeting Juncker and Erdogan were practically insulting one another. Turkish President didn’t like Juncker’s remark on Erdogan being treated “like a prince” at the summit in Brussels.
“Like a prince? Of course, I’m not representing a third world country,” reversed Erdogan, accusing the European Commission President of incivility.