Angela Merkel not worried about migrant pact between EU and Turkey

German chancellor Angela Merkel said she was not worried about the fate of a migrant pact between the EU and Turkey, but said more time was needed to overcome differences with Ankara over visa-free travel for Turks.

The EU is trying to keep a deal on track which would allow Turks visa-free travel to the bloc in return for Turkey continuing to stop illegal migrants reaching Europe from its shores.

So far, Turkey has declined to fulfil all the EU’s conditions which include changing its anti-terrorism laws. Rights groups say Ankara uses them to stifle dissent but Turkey says it needs them to fight threats from Islamic State and Kurdish militants.