BREXIT: Should they stay or should they go? EU to host talks with Turkey 'in a few days'

The EU will open new membership talks with Turkey as planned in a few days, EU diplomatic sources said Wednesday, just as Ankara's accession becomes a hot-button issue in Britain's vote on its future in the bloc.

One source, who asked not to be named, told AFP that EU member states will meet June 30 to agree to open a new negotiating chapter with Turkey on finance and budget affairs.

A British spokesperson in Brussels said the decision was procedural and followed up a pledge made by European Union leaders in March to open another accession chapter with Turkey.

"In March, all member states agreed to open Chapter 33, during the Netherlands (six-month EU) presidency. This is a technical step to implement that agreement," the spokesperson said.

EU leaders at a summit in March agree to speed up Turkey's long-stalled membership talks as part of an accord with Ankara on tackling the migration crisis, promising to open at least one new chapter by the end of June when the Netherlands presidency finishes.

The issue however has become caught up in the campaign for Thursday's bitterly-fought Brexit referendum amid charges by the "Leave" camp that accession will allow millions of Turks into the country.

British Prime Minister David Cameron insists Turkey will not join the 28-nation bloc for many years, even though the government's official position is to support Ankara's membership.

Since Muslim-majority Turkey formally launched its membership bid in 2005, the EU has opened 15 chapters out of the 35 required to join the bloc.

So far only one chapter has been completed, with disagreements over Turkey's human rights record an obstacle for many EU states.

Under the March accord, the EU also agreed to boost aid to Turkey to cope with millions of refugees, mostly Syrians, on its territory and to speed up visa liberalisation.

WHAT IS A 'BREXIT'?

Brex-what? Brexit, it’s a blended word – kind of like Branjolina or Bennifer … only this divorce would have a much bigger impact.

The Brexit is about Britain exiting the European Union.

Britain has more than 45 million eligible voters and turnout is expected to be huge. In just the last month, more than one and a half million people registered to vote in this historic referendum.

Currently, Britain is one of 28 countries in the European Union – an area of free trade and open borders. The vote to Brexit or remain boils down to three main issues:Laws, Trade and Immigration.

Those in favor of a Brexit say a lot has changed since Britain first entered the EU’s predecessor organization in 1973. They claim the EU is now dysfunctional: too big, too open and too bureaucratic.

The leader of the U.K. Independence Party pushing for a Brexit is Nigel Farage. He says the needs of Britain’s working class have been overshadowed by elites. “It is the establishment, it is the wealthy, it is the multinationals, it is the big banks, it is those whose lives have really done rather well in the last few years who support remaining and against it, it’s the people” argues Farage.

Farage is joined by former London Mayor Boris Johnson, who argued that “what the public wants, if I may say so, is for us to concentrate relentlessly on the things that matter to them. Taking back control of huge sums of money, 10 billon pounds a year. Taking back control of our borders, our immigration policy, and fundamentally taking back control of our democracy.”

Those who want Britain to remain in the EU cite concerns about growth – some economists warn of a drop in British GDP of 2% if Britain leaves the EU.They also fear a weakened currency and a tarnish to London’s standing as a world financial center.

Leading the argument to stay is Prime Minister David Cameron. “I hope that we wake up on June the 24th knowing that businesses are going to invest more in our country, create more jobs in our country, see more growth in our country, cause that will help thefamilies of our country,” Cameron said in an address to Parliament last week.

Cameron is supported by many young people in Britain, as well as US President Barack Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and China’s President Xi Jinping.