EU plans to declare Balkan migrant route "closed" - reports

EU plans to declare Balkan migrant route "closed" - reports

The draft states that the EU leaders will declare: "Irregular flows of migrants along the Western Balkans route are coming to an end; this route is now closed."

"The EU will stand by Greece in this difficult moment and will do its utmost to help manage the situation," the draft further states, and adds: "This is a collective EU responsibility requiring fast and efficient mobilization."

This statement will today be considered by leaders of the 28 member states after a meeting with Turkish PM Ahmet Davutoglu.

But a spokeswoman for Chancellor Angela Merkel's said on Monday this was "speculation" while talks are ongoing.

"I indeed have taken note of reports that there is speculation about the closure of the Balkans route, but I want to say that this is speculation at the moment. The negotiations and talks are ongoing and we have to wait," said Christiane Wirtz, according to AFP.

Austrian newspaper Standard was also reporting earlier today that Brussels plans "dramatic changes with the goal of solving the migrant crisis, including the closure of the Balkan route."

The Vienna daily writes that EU heads of state and government plan to end to illegal migration and prioritize putting an end to the policy of letting migrants pass through from Greece to Germany.

Based on a document which the newspaper had access to, Athens will have to immediately provide 50,000 places for potential asylum seekers, while it will get help from the EU.

Migrants who do not have a chance to get asylum should be immediately transferred to Turkey, the paper said on its website.

"Irregular flows of migrants along the Western Balkans route are coming to an end; this route is now closed," the Standard also quoted the statement that should be adopted during the summit on Monday.

Many of the planned measures are based on agreements that should be reached with Turkey.

Turkey is this expected to immediately constructively participate in the control of external borders in the Aegean, and accept those migrants who cannot get asylum in Europe, as part of readmission.

The EU also plans to reach a special agreement on readmission with Turkey, which should enter into force on June 1.