The European Council of leaders ended late on Thursday in Brussels. Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said that EU partners “acknowledged the key role Turkey plays in the reduction of refugee flows,” while he underlined the importance of Turkey’s implementation of all agreements reached at the summit.

Following the meeting, the Greek PM said that the relationship between Greece and Turkey was pivotal in managing and reducing the flow of refugees while he stated that there was a need to implement a bilateral Greek-Turkish agreement on readmissions so as to return to Turkey all those who “do not fit a refugee profile.”

Third countries 

The European Union made a commitment to pressure third countries into either activating older reintroduction agreements or agreeing to readmissions, he revealed. There must be a legal and safe way to transfer refugees to their destinations, and a comprehensive policy of returns for those who do not qualify for asylum. European leaders also recognized the need for a resettlement mechanism applied directly from Turkey and they committed to beginning this in February.

Hotspots

Tsipras said that Greece will continue to fulfil its obligations in terms of hotspot provisions. Work is underway for the construction of such centers in mainland Greece, and EU partners hailed progress made by Greece and Italy. “We will continue to fulfil our humanitarian obligations,” said Tsipras, noting that Europe’s future cannot be one of “walls and violence” but of “solidarity, humanitarianism and co-responsibility.”

Border and Coast guard agency

The Greek PM said that the creation of a border and coast guard agency is a welcome decision and said that “it is absolutely clear that the activity of these agencies lies in the responsibility of guarding the borders, which remains a national responsibility.” A final decision on their creation will have to be made by June 2016.

On his part, French President Francois Hollande said he agrees with the proposal by the European Commission to set up an EU coast and border guard during his arrival at the leaders summit. “We have to protect the EU’s external borders,” he said.