BRUSSELS: The EU said Wednesday it had agreed on how to finance a three billion euro ($3.3 billion) deal to aid Syrian refugees in Turkey, in exchange for Ankara's help in stemming the flow of migrants, after resolving a dispute with Italy.
The deal means the European Commission, the EU executive, will contribute one billion euros to Turkey and the 28 member states will contribute two billion, the commission announced.
Germany is the country making the biggest contribution to the fund with 427 million euros, followed by Britain with 327 million and France with 309 million, EU sources said.
Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi had stalled on signing off on the deal because of questions about how the accord would work, but EU sources told AFP that said Rome had given its approval on Wednesday.
"The European Commission today welcomed the agreement by Member States on the details of the 3 billion euro Refugee Facility for Turkey," the Brussels-based Commission said in a statement.
"The EU will now be able to swiftly deliver substantial new financial resources to support Turkey in coping with the presence of Syrian refugees under temporary protection and host communities in Turkey."
Turkey, the main launching point for the one million refugees and migrants who arrived in Europe last year, has promised to cut the flow of people as part of the deal agreed with the EU at a summit in November.
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