EU calls on Turkey, Western Balkan countries to work towards common solution for migrants

Turkey and the Western Balkan counties should work closely with the European Union (EU) towards a common solution to manage the unprecedented flow of immigrants arriving in Europe, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said on Saturday.

"We had substantial discussions on an issue that had showed us clearly that we have common responsibilities and that we either find a common solution or we don't find a solution at all," Mogherini told the press after a two-day informal meeting of the EU foreign affairs council.

The meeting was also attended by foreign affairs ministers of Turkey, Albania, Montenegro, Serbia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). These countries are part of the immigrants' route to Europe and also candidate countries to join the EU.

"A common point made by all ministers was the need to implement at full all parts of the decisions taken in the last year," said the EU foreign policy chief, referring to the action plans agreed between the EU and Turkey as well as between the EU and the Western Balkan countries last year to manage the flow of immigrants.

"It is very important that we keep a European approach" on dealing with the refugees, echoed Dutch minister of foreign affairs Bert Koenders. The Netherlands holds the rotating presidency of the EU from January to June 2016.

Koenders said that all ministers underlined the need to keep a European perspective and "not only take unilateral approaches," referring to actions taken lately by a number of European countries in an effort to block the migrant crossing for Greece to FYROM.

On the action plan with Turkey, Mogherini said Turkey has already taken concrete actions to cope with the flow of immigrants, including granting working permits to Syrian refugees and adopting various visa regimes.

She called on Turkey to grant protection to the tens of thousands of Syrian refugees that are seeking refuge across the border following the intensified military operation in Syria's northern province of Aleppo.

"There is need for moral and legal duty to protect those in need of asylum," she said. In a similar tone Koenders said people in humanitarian need should be allowed in. Enditem