EU promises Greece $780m and guards to help at Turkish border

Greek soldiers fire tear gas grenades over the Turkish border near Kastanies on 4 March 2020. /Sakis Mitrolidis/AFP

The European Union will deploy its Frontex rapid-intervention border force and grant Greece $780 million of aid to manage the migrant flashpoint at its frontier with Turkey.

Around 10,000 asylum seekers have arrived at the Greek-Turkish land border to attempt to gain entry to the EU bloc. The Greek pushback has included the use of water cannon and tear gas by riot police.

For the second day running, Greek officials have denied Turkish reports of migrants being killed. On Wednesday, Turkish security officials claimed a migrant died from a chest wound after being shot with live ammunition - a claim "vehemently" denied by Greek government spokesman Stelios Petsas as "fake news."

On Tuesday, Greece also denied a Turkish claim that Greek forces had killed three migrants trying to cross to its territory.

Migrants at the port of Mytilene, wait to receive food and water from Greek authorities on the island of Lesbos. /AP/Panagiotis Balaskas

After flying over the border area by helicopter, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU would provide Greece with "all the support needed," insisting that "those who seek to test Europe's unity will be disappointed" because "we will hold the line and our unity will prevail."

Describing Greece as a "shield" for Europe, she said the bloc would provide the country with $780 million, half of it immediately.

Von der Leyen also announced that Frontex will deploy a rapid intervention team, with an additional 100 guards backed by coastal patrol vessels, helicopters and vehicles. Frontex, also known as the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, can supply up to 1,500 extra guards within five days, assembled by quota from around the union.

"Our first priority is making sure that order is maintained at the Greek external border, which is also the European border," Von der Leyen said. "I am fully committed to mobilizing all the necessary operational support to the Greek authorities."

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Source(s): Reuters ,AFP