European Union officials on Tuesday promised more cash for Greece during a visit to its border with Turkey, which tens of thousands of migrants and refugees have been trying for days to breach.
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The head of the EU’s executive Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said after touring the area with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the heads of the European Council and Parliament.
The officials urged Turkey to abide by a 2016 deal which requires it to keep the migrants on its soil in return for EU aid.
After an upsurge in fighting in Syria recently, Ankara has said it will no longer stop migrants who want to reach Europe.
Greek riot police have used tear gas against the migrants at its Kastanies border post, while the coastguard has tried to stop boats transporting migrants to Greece’s Aegean islands.
A Syrian boy died on Monday after his boat capsized in the area.
“The situation at our border is not only an issue for Greece to manage, it is the responsibility of Europe as a whole.
“We will hold the line and our unity will prevail,” von der Leyen, told a news conference at Kastanies.
Von der Leyen announced additional aid of 700 million euros to help Greece deal with the migrant crisis.
Brussels is desperate to avoid a repeat of the 2015 to 2016 crisis, when over one million migrants entered the EU from Turkey via the Balkans, straining European security and welfare systems and boosting support for far-right parties.
Greek troops and riot police remained on high alert along the Turkish border, though there were no reports of significant new clashes with the migrants.
“There were only a few attempts today to cross the border. Let’s hope they get the message,” a machine gun-totting army officer told Reuters at the Kastanies border post.
Army jeeps patrolled the area and roads leading to the Evros River which marks the Greek-Turkish border remained shut.