European Union pushed to keep its migrant deal with Turkey

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Seven weeks after Turkey's failed coup attempt, and with its relationship with Turkey on rocky ground, the EU is pushing to keep its migrant deal with Ankara on track. Martin Kuebler reports from Brussels.

Relations between Turkey and the EU have been strained following the unsuccessful coup against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan nearly two months ago, and Ankara's subsequent crackdown on tens of thousands of people for their alleged support of US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, accused by the Turkish government of masterminding the coup.

Despite messages of support from EU and other Western officials immediately following the coup attempt on July 15, which saw members of the armed forces try to overthrow the government, Ankara has accused the EU of indifference and threatened to pull out of its agreement with the bloc to stem the flow of migrants from the Middle East and Africa.

But with EU officials now back from their summer holidays, it seems the diplomatic push to keep the migrant deal from collapsing has kicked back into gear.

European Parliament President Martin Schulz traveled to Ankara on Thursday to meet with Erdogan, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim and other top officials, in one of the highest-ranking EU visits to the country since July 15. Schulz's visit coincided with that of EU Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos, who met with Turkey's EU affairs minister Ömer Celik.

"My visit aims to pay tribute to all the Turkish citizens who courageously took to the streets to defend democracy in the country," Schulz said ahead of his trip. "I also aim to set the political dialogue on the right footing once again."