Merkel defends EU’s migrant deal with Turkey
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is defending anew the European Union's migrant deal with Turkey, saying that it's right to combat illegal migration and people-smuggling.
Merkel spoke at an event in Berlin Friday as Greece resumed deportations to Turkey under the deal that she has championed. The arrangement has drawn criticism from human rights groups and others.
Merkel said she is “firmly convinced that making clear we are pitting ourselves against illegal migration is right.”
She pointed to continuing deaths of people crossing the Aegean Sea and said that Europe can't stand by and watch people-smugglers taking control.
She said that “each migrant will receive an individual examination” and that “we are in a critical dialogue” with nongovernmental organizations.
[AP]
