Ahead of the summit, between 13,000 and 14,000 were camped at the Greek-Macedonia border, clinging to the hope that they might be allowed to move north.
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It comes after at least 25 people drowned off the Turkish coast while trying to reach Greece, as Macedonian authorities imposed further restrictions on refugees trying to cross the Greek border.
The EU said Turkey has made progress toward implementing a cooperation-for-aid deal clinched in November but added that too many people were still heading from Turkey to Greece, the main entry point to Europe.
The huge influx of refugees and migrants has caused major divisions within the EU, although European President Donald Tusk on Friday struck an upbeat note about Monday’s summit in Brussels, which will include Turkey. “Not just the wording that this is urgent, but that it will begin immediately and with a large number”. People from Syria’s Aleppo are considered refugees, since it’s a warzone, whereas citizens of Damascus would not be allowed to enter.
Ahmet Davutoglu told reporters Sunday before departing for a Turkey-EU summit in Brussels that the escalating crisis in Syria has meant that the reduction has been slow.
“We have papers that say we arrived at Idomeni on February 27th, but those who are due to cross the border today – but might not be allowed across – arrived on February 17th or 18th”.
Facilities In Germany, however, Chancellor Angela Merkel told Athens to focus on ensuring provision of adequate facilities for tens of thousands of refugees. “The truth is that Turkey came to the summit with attractive proposals, and I believe that surprised many”, said Greek Prime Minister Alex Tsipras.
“We are hoping that we will finally see a unique and united response by Europe to this issue”, said Crnadak, referring to Monday’s EU-Turkey migrant crisis summit in Brussels.
The refugee camp there is filled over capacity, forcing thousands to pitch their tents in nearby fields and railway tracks.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said in a phone interview with the Associated Press that the alliance “will do reconnaissance, we will do surveillance, we will collect information, and share this information in real time with the Turkish coast guard, the Greek coast guard and with Frontex, helping them with managing the migrant and refugee crisis, and also to cut the lines of the illegal trafficking and smugglers”, Stoltenberg said. As an additional step, Turkey said it expects European Union nations to ease its visa restrictions on Turkish citizens within months.
Migrants mob a truck bringing donated firewood at the northern Greek border station of Idomeni. According to Greek officials, Macedonia has allowed some 2,000 people through its borders in the last two weeks.
In Athens, police patrolled a central city square to prevent migrants setting up camp after the site was cleared over the weekend. “It keeps its border open to austerity but closed for people fleeing war”, Tsipras said.
Hundreds of people, mostly from Afghanistan, had been sleeping rough at Victoria Square after Austria and Balkans countries further north imposed border restrictions and closures. Last Wednesday, the European Commission proposed to earmark $760 million in humanitarian aid to deal with the refugee crisis in Greece and along the Balkan route. Greek police said 240 people crossed between 6am on Saturday and the same time on Sunday morning.
“Whatever it takes, we will go”.
The incident occurred as European Union leaders prepare to meet Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Monday at a summit to discuss stemming the flow of migrants traveling to Europe. “Everybody from Syria who came needs global protection”.
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The EU a year ago pledged only to distribute around the bloc around 20,000 people from Turkey – which hosts almost three million Syrian refugees – as well as from Lebanon and Jordan. We have nothing to go back to. “Our homes are destroyed”, said Lasgeen Hassan, who, with the rest of his Kurdish Syrian family, wants to reunite with relatives in Germany. “The press must be free everywhere, including in Turkey”.
