In an interview before her recent visit to Istanbul, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she would refuse Turkey’s request for EU membership, adding that she sees accession negotiations as an open-ended process. Given that position, it is hard to think of Germany's proposal to pay Turkey 3 billion euros ($3.2 billion as of Nov. 18), ease visas restrictions and expedite accession negotiations as sincere and realistic.

European Union leaders meeting at the EU-Africa migration summit Nov. 11-12 in Malta agreed, at least in theory, to pay Turkey 3 billion euros to stop the refugee flow to Europe or slow it down; to reinforce Turkey’s border controls to prevent access to Europe; and to improve the conditions of refugees in Turkey.

Specific conditions of the assistance and the necessary agreements will be discussed at an EU summit that Recep Tayyip Erdogan plans to attend at the end of November.

Germany is spearheading the initiative with Turkey to secure EU borders. According to Turkish daily Vatan, more than 60% of the refugees trying to reach Europe want to go to Germany and are prepared to risk everything to do it.