A report in Greek popular Sunday newspaper Proto Thema claiming that according to intelligence officials the Turkish government has a secret plan to allow 3,000 refugees to sail to Greece every day was picked up by international media.
The Independent, amongst other British papers, reports that Greek analysts estimate that thousands of dinghies and motorboats have massed along the Turkish coast as the refugee deal agreed between Ankara and Brussels looks set to unravel.
Proto Thema reports that Ankara has given up on hope of Brussels living up to its side of the deal and could start allowing the refugees to flee “within a matter of weeks”.
Many remain stuck on islands in the Aegean with frequent fires and disorder breaking out in the large, unsanitary camps.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly threatened to open the borders if the EU continued to block talks on the country’s accession to the union. He said :”If you go any further, these border gates will be opened. Neither me nor my people will be affected by these dry threats. It wouldn’t matter if all of you approved the vote”.
Last week the European Parliament voted to temporarily halt membership talks amid concerns about the brutal crackdown on dissent in the country following an attempted military coup in July.
As the northern borders of Greece have been sealed, any increased numbers of migrants landing on Greek islands will very likely have to remain in Greece until Europe decides how to handle the problem.
