The European Union hopes Sunday to secure Ankara's concrete help in stemming a surge in migration, at a joint summit in Brussels, with the bloc offering financial aid and closer ties in return, dpa reported. "The meeting will mark an important step in developing our relations and contribute to managing the migration crisis," EU President Donald Tusk wrote in his invitation to the EU's 28 leaders. Turkey is due to be represented by Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. Europe is facing its largest people movements since World War II, with almost 900,000 migrants and asylum seekers arriving this year. Many, including large numbers from war-torn Syria, transit through Turkey and board boats headed for Greece. The EU has been courting Ankara for almost two months to enlist its help in curbing the arrivals, for example by improving refugees' prospects in Turkey, increasing border patrols and cracking down on illegal traffickers. Turkey has taken in more than 2 million refugees, mostly from neighbouring Syria.
