Tensions between Turkey and the EU are escalating following an ‘ultimatum’ threat put forward by Turkish Foreign Minister, Mevlut Cavucoglu, Monday, that if the EU did not grant free visa access to Turkish nationals by mid October his country would open the refugee floodgates into Europe. Germany’s Vice-Chancellor, Sigmar Gabriel responded by making it clear that Germany or the EU would in no way be blackmailed into caving in to Turkey’s threats to go back on its obligations deriving from the EU-Turkey refugee agreement. Gabriel stressed that if Turkey wanted to gain free travel visas for its citizens, it would have to abide by the requirements laid down in the agreement, which among other things demand Turkey reform its anti-terrorist legislation. Relations between the EU and Turkey have steadily deteriorated in the aftermath of the failed coup attempt last month, with the Europeans criticising Turkish President Erdogan over his purges in the Turkish public sector against thousands of political opponents with the excuse of safeguarding democracy without due legal process. Austrian Foreign Minister, Sebastian Kurz, was also harsh in his response, pointing out that the EU ‘would not accept any blackmail from Turkey in relation to the refugee deal’. Kurz reiterated the conditions for the lifting of the visa requirements saying that it would only happen if Turkey implemented all the demands without exception, adding that there was a rise in authoritarianism in Turkey after the failed coup attempt. The Austrian diplomat had called on Austrian citizens of Turkish background to be loyal to Austria and they could go back to Turkey if they desired to get involved in Turkish domestic politics. European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker had predicted the possible negative outcome in the refugee deal with Turkey after the failed coup, stressing in Austrian media that Erdogan had repeatedly attempted to question the agreement in the past. Ankara has informed Brussels that it would not accept any readmissions of migrants and refugees back into Turkey, as provided in the agreement, before the visa restrictions for Turkish nationals were lifted. In the event the EU-Turkey refugee deal collapses Greece would bear the brunt of the effect, as the Aegean route for refugees and migrants would be wide open.