Tsipras calls for ‘European solution’ to refugee crisis

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has called upon European leaders to share the refugee burden, while urging Turkey to do more to slow the flow of migrants across the Aegean.

“This is not the problem of one country, this is a European problem. We have to find collective solutions, European solutions to this problem,” Tsipras said on arriving for a meeting between EU leaders and Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Brussels.

Tsipras suggested that Turkey has not done enough to slow the flow of migrants cross the Aegean into Europe.

“Agreements that are not implemented are not agreements at all,” he said.

The Greek premier also called for European governments to share the migrant burden and accelerate the refugee relocation process.

“Europe has some principles and values,” Tsipras said. “These principles are for all, these rules are for all.”

EU leaders agreed in September to share 160,000 refugees arriving in Greece and Italy over two years. As of March 3, fewer than 700 people had been relocated to other European countries.