The EU yesterday gave conditional backing to visa-free travel for Turks under a migrant deal and unveiled new asylum rules including fines for countries that refuse their share of refugees.

In its latest bid to tackle the biggest migration crisis since World War II, the European Commission proposed making countries pay a "solidarity contribution" of 250,000 euros ($290,000) per refugee they decline to take.

Turkey has threatened to tear up a March agreement to take back migrants from Greece if the EU fails to keep its promise to allow nearly 80 million Turkish citizens to travel without visas to Europe.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said visa-free travel could herald a "new page" in the often troubled relations between the EU and Ankara, but warned Brussels to "stick to its promise".

European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans said the EU's executive arm would recommend the plan so long as Ankara meets the remaining criteria by the end of June.

Turkey still has five more benchmarks to go on the EU's list of 72 — which include biometric passports and human

rights issues — despite making "impressive progress" in recent weeks, Timmermans said.

"There is no free ride here, and we are clear about what remains to be done," Timmermans told reporters, in response to criticism from several EU states that the deal is too soft on Turkey's rights record.

The 28 EU member states and the European Parliament must also approve

the visa scheme, which is by no means a foregone conclusion.

Under the plan, Turkish citizens would be allowed to make 90-day visits to Europe's 26-country Schengen pass-port-free area for business or tourism without needing a visa.

Brussels hopes the asylum reform will work in tandem with the EU-Turkey deal, as

a result of which numbers of arrivals in Greece have dropped dramatically since it came into forceon March 20.

The International Organization for Migration meanwhile said eighty-four migrants were missing after their inflatable dinghy sank off the Libyan coast

The dinghy was found taking on water in rough seas after the Italian coast guard received a satellite phone call.

It diverted the merchant ship to rescue 26 survivors and bring them to Italy. A spokesperson for the coastguard said similar boats used by people smugglers could hold 100-120 people, and were usually full.

Rough seas and waves topping two metres hampered rescue efforts.

At least 800 migrants are feared to have drowned in the southern Mediterranean this year to date

Meanwhile the Commission further announced a six-month extension of border controls in the Schengen zone which have been reintroduced in some places as a result of the migrant crisis and recent terror attacks in Paris and Brussels.

Germany, France Austria, Denmark and Sweden requested the extension, saying the border situation remains ■ extremely volatile".