Quote Originally Posted by I of the Storm View Post
True, but then the refugee deal would be off too and that would mean that Greece and the Balkans would be even more effed up and the balkan route reopened which is something the EU wants to avoid, because that in turn would strenghten again the autocrats and populists in Hungary, Austria and the rest of Europe.
By supporting Erdogan they are buying some sorely needed stability in the core territories and sensitive regions. The price is high though.
Up go the fences. There's no need for a refugee deal if no one is allowed to travel from Turkey to the EU. The Turks within the EU won't be happy to be cut off from their families, but the exit door is always open if they feel that strongly about it.