Greece warns EU as minister plan to curb refugees

Greece warns any EU deal on the refugee crisis must incorporate mandatory distributions of the refugees as ministers of the bloc meet to tighten regulations.

“Greece will not agree to deals if a mandatory allocation of burdens and responsibilities among member countries is not secured,” Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras told parliament in Athens.

His comments came as EU interior ministers gathered to hold a meeting in Brussels on Thursday to hear plans by Austria and eight Balkan countries to fingerprint all refugees.

Greece is grappling with a crisis from Macedonia's decision to block entry to Afghans, which has left thousands of refugees stranded on its territory.

Austria and Balkan nations have also agreed measures to restrict numbers, while Hungary plans to hold a referendum on whether to accept mandatory quotas of refugees.

In Brussels, EU interior ministers will hear plans under which anyone who does not have a passport or holds fake documents would be turned away.

On Wednesday, Tsipras accused EU partners of dumping the burden of the refugee crisis on Greece.

“We will not accept turning the country into a permanent warehouse of souls with Europe continuing to function as if nothing is happening,” he said.

Europe is facing an unprecedented influx of refugees, most of whom are fleeing conflict-ridden zones in Africa and the Middle East, particularly Syria.

SS