"Some said the deal would never be made, it is not even worth a try. After the deal was made, they said it would never work. If we have new problems, they will say it is an ultimate failure. I do not think so and I do not work in that way," Merkel told the German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
She noted a 90-percent decline in the number of migrants arriving on Greek shores due to the Brussels-Ankara agreement, adding that the implementation of the deal was a long process requiring continuous effort.
"In case some steps, like visa-free travel for Turks, take more time than expected due to unfulfilled requirements, we will figure out how we can resolve the situation," Merkel said.
In March, Brussels and Ankara agreed on a deal providing that Turkey would take back all migrants who arrive in the European Union illegally through its territory in return for an acceleration of its EU membership talks and a visa-free regime between Turkey and the Schengen Area.
Ankara has to meet 72 EU requirements before a visa-free regime with the bloc can be introduced.
