The European Union was set to officially launch a new stage in Turkey’s long-stalled membership bid on Monday as part of a deal aimed at tackling the migration crisis.

The European Union was set to officially launch a new stage in Turkey's long-stalled membership bid on Monday as part of a deal aimed at tackling the migration crisis.

Foreign ministers from the 28-member bloc are due to approve a new "chapter" of Turkey's drawn-out process to join the European Union, focusing on economic and monetary policy.

EU leaders agreed to the new phase at a summit with Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in November, in exchange for Ankara stepping up efforts to prevent mainly Syrian refugees from reaching Europe.

Since Turkey's membership bid began in 2005 the EU has opened 15 chapters, including Monday's, but due to disagreements over rights issues in particular, only one has been completed.

"It is a good day for a peaceful development in our neighborhood," EU enlargement commissioner Johannes Hahn said. "Turkey has a vast interest in working together with us."

Under the November 29 EU-Turkey deal, EU leaders pledged three billion euros ($3.2 billion) in aid for the more than two  million refugees currently on Turkish soil from the Syrian conflict.

The EU agreed to open the new chapter -- officially known as Chapter 17 -- and end the visa requirement for Turkish visitors to the EU's passport-free Schengen zone.

return Turkey vowed to take steps including cracking down on people smugglers and cooperating with the EU on the return of economic migrants who do not qualify as refugees.