European Union leaders have agreed to pay Turkey US$3.4 billion and allow visa-free EU travel for its citizens in return for Ankara doing its utmost to stem the tide of asylum-seekers crossing its borders to reach Europe.

The deal — reached just two weeks ahead of a general election in Turkey — has been criticized by some for adding impetus to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's campaign amid claims over his human rights record and policies toward, among others, the Kurds and the media.

The deal also includes a promise of expediting negotiations over Turkey's accession into the European Union, but AK Party spokesman Omer Celik said the US$3.4 billion should not be seen as a matter of "political bribery". He said nothing had been concluded with the EU over the handling of migrant and refugee flows, but that talks were continuing.

"Bordering on Insanity"

The process of becoming an EU member is divided into chapters, but Turkey's bid has stalled in recent years over sharp differences on issues such as rule-of-law and rights. But the major issue is over Cyprus where — in 1974 — Turkey occupied a third of the island in response to an Athens-backed coup aimed at annexing Cyprus to Greece.

Why should #Turkey trust #EU? While it is the only country in EU accession talks whose citizens still excluded visa-free travel to Europe — Ragıp Soylu (@ragipsoylu) October 15, 2015

Turkey refuses to acknowledge the Republic of Cyprus (an EU member since 2004) as the sole authority on the island, and recognizes the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus since its establishment in 1983.

EU-Turkey action plan is major step in right direction; only makes sense if it effectively contains flow of refugees. #EUCO — Donald Tusk (@eucopresident) October 15, 2015

This has been a major sticking point in the question of the accession of Turkey into the EU as a full member. Another is a dispute over territorial sea limits between the two nations.

Summit chairman Donald Tusk, expressed "cautious optimism" saying:

"Our intensified meetings with Turkish leaders… in the last couple of weeks were devoted to one goal: stemming the migratory flows that go via Turkey to the EU. The action plan is a major step in this direction."

However, the plans to allow visa-free access for Turkish citizens to the EU was branded "bordering on insanity" by Nigel Farage, leader of the anti-EU UKIP Party:

"This Commission proposal is bordering on insanity. Agreeing to liberalize border requirements for 75 million Turkish nationals is a form of EU madness."

"From a cost, security and cultural perspective, this is completely the wrong move.

"If Cameron and Co allow this to happen it's the British people who will be the turkeys at Christmas. Yet another reason to leave the EU."