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Migrant crisis: EU's Tusk in Turkey for key talks Migrant crisis: Asylum seekers in EU 'doubled in 2015'
(35 minutes later)
European Council President Donald Tusk is due to hold talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to try to strengthen their joint approach to Europe's migration crisis. The number of people seeking asylum in the European Union in 2015 reached 1,255,600 - more than double that of the previous year, new figures suggest.
Mr Tusk has raised the idea of "shipping back" migrants who arrive in the Greek islands from Turkey. Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans topped the list of applicants, with more than a third going to Germany, Eurostat says.
He said on Thursday that it could break the business model of people smugglers. Thousands more migrants are arriving in Greece from Turkey every day.
Mr Tusk has been engaged in intense diplomatic activity ahead of an EU-Turkey summit to be held on Monday. More than 25,000 are now stranded in northern Greece on the border with Macedonia, as EU countries have re-imposed internal border controls.
French President Francois Hollande is also hosting the German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Paris on Friday to discuss the migration crisis. At a news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Paris, French President Francois Hollande said migrants and refugees had to stay in neighbouring countries - and he vowed to help Turkey cope with the influx.
Thousands of refugees and migrants are continuing to arrive on the Greek islands every day after setting off from the Turkish coast. European Council President Donald Tusk is due to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for talks later.
They aim to reach Germany and other countries in northern Europe but are finding their way blocked by increasing border controls. An EU-Turkey summit is due to be held on Monday.
More than 25,000 are now stranded in northern Greece on the border with Macedonia, raising fears of a humanitarian crisis.
Have EU promises been kept?Have EU promises been kept?
Why is EU struggling with migrants and asylum?Why is EU struggling with migrants and asylum?
Internal border controls introduced by eight EU countries to stop the flow of migrants and refugees have strained the European passport-free Schengen agreement.Internal border controls introduced by eight EU countries to stop the flow of migrants and refugees have strained the European passport-free Schengen agreement.
On Friday, the European Commission unveiled a proposal to restore a fully-functioning border-free are by the end of the year. On Friday, the European Commission unveiled a proposal to restore a fully-functioning border-free area by the end of the year.
Among the measures, it says countries must stop the "wave-through" procedure of allowing migrants to move from one country to another, along with support for external border controls, particularly for Greece.Among the measures, it says countries must stop the "wave-through" procedure of allowing migrants to move from one country to another, along with support for external border controls, particularly for Greece.
The latest data released by the EU on Friday says the number of first-time asylum seekers within the EU for 2015 had reached 1,255,600 - more than double that of the previous year. Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans topped the list of applicants with more than a third turning to Germany for protection. In a six-point plan announced on Friday, the UN refugee agency UNHCR said it wanted centres processing claims to be set up in all EU countries, to be followed by agreed quotas to redistribute the claimants.
BBC Europe correspondent Chris Morris says Mr Tusk's talks with President Erdogan on Friday are crucial if the flow of migrants to Europe is to be stemmed.BBC Europe correspondent Chris Morris says Mr Tusk's talks with President Erdogan on Friday are crucial if the flow of migrants to Europe is to be stemmed.
On Thursday, Mr Tusk issued a warning to illegal economic migrants. On Thursday, Mr Tusk issued a warning to illegal economic migrants to to try to reach Europe and he proposed "a fast and large-scale mechanism to ship back irregular migrants" arriving in Greece.
"I want to appeal to all potential illegal economic migrants wherever you are from: Do not come to Europe," he said after talks in Athens with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. "Do not believe the smugglers. Do not risk your lives and your money. It is all for nothing."
Later, after meeting Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Ankara, Mr Tusk said the number of migrants crossing the Aegean Sea from Turkey to EU states remained "far too high".
He said it was for Turkey to decide how best to achieve such a reduction but added: "To many in Europe, the most promising method seems to be a fast and large-scale mechanism to ship back irregular migrants arriving in Greece.
"It would effectively break the business model of smugglers."
Mr Davutoglu said the flow of Syrian refugees would lessen if the cessation of hostilities in the conflict held.
Ankara is reluctant to readmit migrants who manage to reach the EU. It argues that it has already spent €8bn (£6bn) looking after refugees from the Syrian war, and is already hosting 2.5 million.Ankara is reluctant to readmit migrants who manage to reach the EU. It argues that it has already spent €8bn (£6bn) looking after refugees from the Syrian war, and is already hosting 2.5 million.
Sending migrants back to Turkey is also problematic for the EU.Sending migrants back to Turkey is also problematic for the EU.
International law forbids returns of asylum seekers to countries if there is a risk of death or persecution there. Only one EU country - Bulgaria - considers Turkey "safe", the European Commission says.International law forbids returns of asylum seekers to countries if there is a risk of death or persecution there. Only one EU country - Bulgaria - considers Turkey "safe", the European Commission says.
However, an EU-Turkey action plan agreed last October says those who do not qualify for international protection - that is, economic migrants - can and should be sent back. It takes time however to determine genuine asylum claims.However, an EU-Turkey action plan agreed last October says those who do not qualify for international protection - that is, economic migrants - can and should be sent back. It takes time however to determine genuine asylum claims.
The EU is offering incentives to Turkey: visa-free travel for Turkish citizens in the Schengen passport-free zone; a new determination to proceed with Turkey's EU membership bid; and €3bn in extra aid for refugees hosted by Turkey. The EU is offering incentives to Turkey: visa-free travel for Turkish citizens in the Schengen zone; a new determination to proceed with Turkey's EU membership bid; and €3bn in extra aid for refugees hosted by Turkey.
The International Organization for Migration says 120,369 migrants have arrived in Greece from Turkey so far this year and at least 321 have died en route.The International Organization for Migration says 120,369 migrants have arrived in Greece from Turkey so far this year and at least 321 have died en route.
A note on terminology: The BBC uses the term migrant to refer to all people on the move who have yet to complete the legal process of claiming asylum. This group includes people fleeing war-torn countries such as Syria, who are likely to be granted refugee status, as well as people who are seeking jobs and better lives, who governments are likely to rule are economic migrants.A note on terminology: The BBC uses the term migrant to refer to all people on the move who have yet to complete the legal process of claiming asylum. This group includes people fleeing war-torn countries such as Syria, who are likely to be granted refugee status, as well as people who are seeking jobs and better lives, who governments are likely to rule are economic migrants.