One of the EUs most senior leaders has warned would-be economic migrants not to undertake a life-threatening journey to Europe.
In a dramatic appeal aimed at potential illegal economic migrants, the president of the European council, Donald Tusk, said: Do not come to Europe. Do not believe the smugglers. Do not risk your lives and your money. It is all for nothing.
Tusk was speaking after meeting Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras in Athens, where he pledged support for Greece, the country on the frontline of the migrant crisis, where up to 2,000 people are arriving each day, many fleeing conflict and violence in Syria and Iraq.
At least 10,000 people are stuck near Greeces northern border with Macedonia at Idomeni, with the vast majority barred from travelling north in the hope of reaching Germany and other countries. The EU, which on Wednesday announced 700m (£544m) in emergency aid, is scrambling to avert a humanitarian catastrophe as it confronts the largest movement of refugees since the end of the second world war.
