Economic migrants should not even contemplate coming illegally to Europe, the EU warned on Thursday before a last-ditch attempt to stop the tide of people arriving on the continent’s shores.
Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, issued a strongly-worded warning to the those tempted to join the wave of refugees from Syria and Iraq in search of work.
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Speaking in Athens before a key EU summit on Monday, he appealed to all potential illegal economic migrants: “Do not come to Europe. Do not risk your lives and your money. It is all for nothing. Greece, or any other European country, will no longer be a transit country.”
More than a million people arrived in Europe by sea last year and the flow is continuing.
Balkan states and Austria have responded with strict border limits, creating a backlog in Greece and triggering a political crisis that may destroy the key EU principle of freedom of movement.
Mr Tusk was in Ankara for talks with Turkish leaders, who are seen as a vital part of solving the crisis.
Turkey is home to 2.5 million Syrians and the starting point for most of those voyaging to Europe by boat.
Mr Tusk wants Turkey to accept migrants turned away by Europe.
