Migrant crisis: Merkel and EU officials visit Turkey to promote deal
The visit comes amid questions over the legality of the EU-Turkey pact, which deports back to Turkey migrants who do not qualify for asylum in Greece.
Human rights groups say Turkey is not a safe place to return people.
Turkish officials have warned the deal could collapse if demands for visa-free EU travel for its citizens are not met.
The agreement says Turkey must meet 72 conditions by 4 May to earn the visa waiver, but diplomats say only half of those points have been met so far.
Satire row
Mrs Merkel is expected to visit a refugee camp in the southern city of Gaziantep, near the Syrian border, where she will meet Turkey's Prime Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu.
She will travel with the European Council President, Donald Tusk, and the EU Commission Vice-President, Frans Timmermans.
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- Satire row stirs free speech fears
Mrs Merkel has faced opposition in Germany for her migration policies and has defended the deal with Turkey despite opposition from some European partners.
Her trip comes as she faces additional pressure for agreeing to the prosecution of a German comedian accused of insulting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Advocates of freedom of speech in both Turkey and Germany have called on Mrs Merkel to send out a strong message on the issue during her visit.
'Not everyone is convinced': Selin Girit, BBC News, Gaziantep, near the Syrian border
It has been over a month now since the migrant deal between the EU and Turkey was struck, but not everyone is convinced that it is working smoothly.
Although the number of migrants reaching Greece from Turkey has dropped by around 80%, few of staff promised by the EU to help enforce the deal have arrived, and many EU nations are dragging their feet to accept more migrants.
Angela Merkel said the aim of the visit was to see the living conditions of migrants in Turkey.
But more will be on the table, such as the promise of visa-free travel for Turkish citizens willing to go to Europe, which seems to be one of the most contentious issues.
Deal's first month
The goal of the EU-Turkey deal is to deter migrants, mainly Syrians and Iraqis, from making the crossing between Turkey and Greece.
Under the agreement, migrants who have arrived illegally in Greece since 20 March are expected to be sent back to Turkey if they do not apply for asylum or if their claim is rejected.
For each Syrian migrant returned to Turkey, the EU is due to take in another Syrian who has made a legitimate request.
The scheme has reduced sharply the number of arrivals, from more than 56,000 in February to around 7,800 over the past 30 days, according to the European Commission.
However, the International Organization of Migration said unofficial data for arrivals in Greece in recent days suggested the numbers were picking up again.
And the promised relocation to EU countries seems to be slow as nations are reluctant to take in more migrants - 103 Syrians have been resettled from Turkey to Europe, the commission said.
Last month, EU border agency Frontex requested 1,550 extra staff to help oversee the deal, but so far only 340 police officers and experts have been sent.
Rights organisations have attacked the scheme, with Amnesty International saying that Turkey has illegally returned Syrians to their country, a charge Ankara denies.
The EU has pledged up to $6.8bn (£4.5bn) in aid to Turkey over the next four years.
Ankara, however, expects more, including visa liberalisation, a point which faces opposition of some EU members.
"If the European Union does not take the steps it needs to take, if it does not fulfil its pledges, then Turkey won't implement this agreement,'' Mr Erdogan said earlier this month.
Turkey already hosts some 2.7 million Syrian refugees, at a cost of over $10bn (£7bn), the government says.
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Mrs Merkel has faced opposition in Germany for her migration policies and has defended the deal with Turkey despite opposition from some European partners.
Her trip comes as she faces additional pressure for agreeing to the prosecution of a German comedian accused of insulting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Advocates of freedom of speech in both Turkey and Germany have called on Mrs Merkel to send out a strong message on the issue during her visit.
The concept of a comedian being prosecuted in a nation that has free speech because he joked about an ego maniac leader of a different nation that does not have free speech is absurd. Of course there has to be cooperation between Germany and Turkey concerning the Syrian migration flow, but that cooperation can not be allowed to inhibit the free speech of the nation Merkel represents and defends. Yes a deal is needed, but not at such a high cost as the inhibition of free speech in Germany. Merkel must make that a non-negotiable part of any migrant agreement or cooperation within the EU. If Merkel does go ahead with the prosecution of the comedian at the behest of Turkey, then she must be removed from power or at the very least be sanctioned by the rest of the EU and by calling our ambassador home.
Turkey is also part of NATO. Are they going to start demanding the arrests of comedians in the United States next? Recep Tayyip Erdogan is a fool (along with being an egotistical mad man) if he thinks he has that kind of reach, even if Germany is the first to give into such a ridiculous demand. It is the obligation of the United States to pressure Merkel to drop the prosecution for the good of Germany and to maintain good relations with the U.S. which we should express to her would be extremely threatened by her actions under pressure from Turkey.