17 March 2016•Update: 19 March 2016
BRUSSELS
Coming to a deal between EU and Turkey on resolving the refugee crisis was "crucial", Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte said on Thursday.
Speaking to reporters before a summit in Brussels, Rutte said: "There is no alternative. We have to come to a deal."
Rutte warned that the situation in Greece will be "very difficult" and the humanitarian crisis will increase as western Balkan routes are closed off.
"So it is crucial to come a deal today or tomorrow," he said.
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras also told reporters that they wished to come to a deal on stopping the refugee influx to Greek islands from Turkey.
Tsipras added that settlement of refugees to the European countries needed to be made within the framework of international law and EU laws.
All 28 EU heads of government are gathering in Brussels on Thursday to discuss how refugees and migrants entering Europe via Greece could be sent back to Turkey.
Under Turkey’s proposal to the EU, the country wants the 28-nation bloc to "share the burden'' based on a formula of "for every Syrian readmitted by Turkey from the Greek islands, another Syrian will be resettled from Turkey to the EU member states".
Ankara also wants visa liberalization by June, speeding up Turkey’s accession talks, and additional three billion euros [$3.4 billion] to meet the needs of Syrian refugees in the country.
