EU to declare ‘route closed’ to refugees

Leaders of the European Union have gathered for an emergency summit in Brussels, where they are expected to declare a decision to seal the Balkans route used by many refugees to reach Europe.

According to an EU diplomat, the 28-member bloc’s leaders would use the summit to announce that they will “close the Balkans route in the coming days,” ending the “wave-through approach” to refugees trying to enter Europe.

Another diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the draft declaration states that “irregular flows of refugees along the western Balkans route are coming to an end.”

The draft also says the bloc will “stand by Greece in this difficult moment and will do its utmost to help manage the situation.”

“This is a collective EU responsibility requiring fast and efficient mobilization,” it reads.

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu will also attend the summit scheduled to be held later on Monday.

The EU leaders are expected to ask Davutoglu to accept “large-scale” deportations of refugees from Greece, which is the main entry point to Europe.

The EU has reportedly offered Ankara three billion euros (USD 3.3 billion) in return for its attempts to stem the flow of refugees arriving in the continent via Turkey.

SS