Turkey plans to offer work permits to Syrian refugees in order to ease the pressure for them to migrate to the EU, Volkan Bozkir, Turkey's minister for European Affairs, told Reuters on Monday.
Over the last year, millions have undertaken treacherous boat crossings to Greek islands near the Turkish coast, continuing over land to reach EU countries with open refugee policies. One of the main factors motivating them to migrate from Turkey is inability to legally earn a decent living in the country.
Over 150,000 people immigrated illegally to Turkey in 2015, and Turkish border authorities stopped 500 refugees daily, Bozkir also said in a meeting with European Commission Vice President Frans Timmeramans in Ankara.
In exchange for a $3.27 billion aid package and easing restrictions on visas for Turkish visitors to the EU, Turkey has pledged to take steps to reduce the number of refugees fleeing to Europe.
