UN: EU needs to stop bickering, support Greece on refugees

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees on Tuesday urged European Union countries to give more resources and support to Greece as it faces a new wave of migrants and refugees from Syria and other parts of the Middle East.

“Greece is an EU member state so its primary source of support is European resources,” Filippo Grandi told journalists in Geneva. “Greece needs more of that. That is very clear.”

He also urged countries to stop “bickering” and to look at the root causes of displacement. 

EU leaders inspect Greece's land border with Turkey

The presidents of the executive European Commission, the European Council and the European Parliament – Ursula von der Leyen, Charles Michel and David Sassoli – were joined by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis as they took a helicopter tour of the country’s land border with Turkey.

The visit is seen as a show of solidarity with Greece as it struggles to hold back the new migrant tide following Turkey’s decision to relax controls on migrant movement toward the EU.

On the way to Greece with Commission President @vonderleyen and @eucopresident Michel. We visit the Greek-Turkish border together with @PrimeministerGR Mitsotakis to assess the situation. This is a European challenge, we need to respond with solidarity and respect for our values. pic.twitter.com/DH4uaDTtS3

— David Sassoli (@EP_President) March 3, 2020