Sputnik — Greece, along with other EU member states, is facing the worst refugee crisis since World War II, as over 800,000 migrants arrived in Europe in 2015, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). In October alone, approximately 160,000 migrants and refugees crossed into Greece from Turkey.
“It is obvious that the only way to stop these flows that no country can control, let alone Greece is an understanding with Turkey,” Alexis Tsipras said during an EU summit in Valetta, Malta as quoted by the Naftemporiki newspaper.
On November 18, Tsipras is expected to pay a visit to Turkey to hold negotiations on migrant issue and bilateral relations with the country’s authorities.
In October, EU leaders agreed to provide $3.4 billion in financial aid to Turkey and activate the process of establishing visa-free EU travel for Turkish citizens. In return, Ankara pledged to do its best to curb the influx of asylum seekers crossing its borders to reach Europe.
