Turkey accused of blackmailing UK over £2BILLION demand to keep migrants out of Europe

TURKEY has been accused of holding Britain and the EU to ransom after it demanded £2BILLION every year or else it would open the floodgates for millions of migrants to enter Europe.

By Nick Gutteridge

PUBLISHED: 12:54, Tue, Dec 1, 2015 | UPDATED: 16:51, Tue, Dec 1, 2015

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Turkey has demanded £2 billion a year from the EU

European leaders signed off the huge cash payout and agreed to allow visa-free travel for Turkey’s 75million citizens across the continent as part of a package of reforms to placate the country’s president.

Turkey said it needed the money to help it stem the growing influx of refugees trying to reach Europe. 

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But rather that it being a one-off payment, it has now emerged that president Recep Erdogan wants the EU to stump up the same amount EVERY YEAR in return for his country keeping millions of migrants at bay.

Britain will contribute £260million towards the first tranche of cash, with taxpayers likely to be stung for similar amounts in the future.

UKIP leader Nigel Farage raged: “By demanding more money and threatening to flood the EU with more migrants, Erdogan is trying to hold us to ransom.

“Britain shouldn't pay this wannabe Islamist dictator a penny but instead take back control of our own borders by leaving the EU. I am increasingly suspicious of Turkish motivation in many areas and don't wish to be involved in a political union of which Turkey will become a member.” 

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Europe is already being gripped by an unprecedented migrant crisis

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Turkey's firebrand president threatened to open the floodgates for millions of refugees

Erdogan is trying to hold us to ransom

UKIP's Nigel Farage

Turkey is the main migrant route into Europe and is currently home to more than two million Syrian refugees.

At a Brussels summit on Sunday European leaders agreed to “re-energise” talks on the state becoming a member of the EU, which would allow its citizens access to the border-free Schengen zone.

They had initially planned to give Turkey 3billion euros over two years to improve conditions in its refugee camps to deter people from attempting the dangerous sea crossing to Europe, but the Turks pushed for a one-off settlement which will be periodically reviewed.

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