(VOVworld)- After negotiating for 12 hours in Brussels on March 7, EU and Turkish leaders failed to find a solution to the worst migrant crisis since World War II. They could only agree to continue the discussion for 10 more days. 

The summit between the EU and Turkey lasted 12 hours instead of the scheduled 3 hours, but still failed to find a solution.

Turkey’s proposal

EU leaders are seeking Turkey’s input to resolving the migrant crisis because most migrants to Europe to go through Turkey. At the summit, Turkey asked the EU to provide an additional 3 billion euros over the next two years in addition to the previously committed 3 billion euros and visa-free access for all its citizens to the EU's Schengen zone beginning in June instead of at the end of the year, plus accelerating negotiations on Turkey’s bid for EU membership.

EU leaders promised additional funding to help Turkey deal with the migrant crisis but backed at6 billion euros. They agreed to speed up talks on Turkey’s bid for EU membership but said the negotiation process may still take years.

The two sides agreed to immediately hunt for human traffickers who are illegally bringing migrants from Turkey to Greece across the Aegeen Sea.

The EU-Turkey summit ended without any solutions to the migrant crisis, but it revealed that the EU needs Turkey more than Turkey needs the EU. Their response to Turkey’s demands showed that EU leaders wanted more than ever to slow the migration because the crisis is challenging unity within the EU.

Future discussion is ahead

EU leaders will continue discussing Turkey’s demands at the annual EU summit scheduled for March 17 and 18. But there is concern that if the EU accepts Turkey’s demands, the EU’s principal democratic values will become “negotiable items” and its prestige will be diminished. Vincent Cochetel, regional director for Europe at the office of the UN high commissioner for refugees (UNHCR) told a news briefing in Geneva that the collective expulsion of foreigners is prohibited under the European convention of human rights.

European Parliament President Martin Schulz pointed out that the migration and refugee crisis should not be linked to matters related to access negotiations between Turkey and the European Union. He said EU migrant talks with Turkey are separate from any membership discussion.

But the EU’s efforts to control its borders will be futile without Turkey’s support because Turkey holds the key geographical position. There are nearly 4 million Syrian refugees in Turkey. If the Ankara government decides to relax its security measures, the migrants will quickly move to Europe making the crisis worse. A final decision on Turkey’s demands will be made at a summit next week. EU leaders say they're confident a final agreement will be reached.