EU foreign policy chief tells Erdoğan border developments unacceptable

European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara on March 4. Following the meeting, Borrell said he told Erdoğan that the situation at the border with Greece was "unacceptable."

Duvar English / Reuters

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said he told Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on March 4 that the situation at the border with Greece was unacceptable and Turkey should not encourage further movement of migrants toward the border with EU states.

Speaking after talks with Erdoğan in the Turkish capital Ankara, he described their meeting as long and profitable.

The meeting, which was closed to the press, was also attended by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and the EU commissioner for crisis management, Janez Lenarcic.

Turkish Foreign Ministry had previously said that Borrell and Lenarcic will discuss Turkey-EU relations, migration crisis and developments regarding Idlib during their Ankara visit.

The EU had also released a statement regarding the visit, saying: "They will hold talks on the ongoing escalation in the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib and the humanitarian consequences for the civilian population on the ground, as well as the situation of Syrian refugees in Turkey."

Topics Turkey Syria Idlib Turkish Ankara Syrian war Syrian rebels Turkish President Syrian refugees President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Syrian army European Union Brussels Idlib conflict Turkey-EU deal refugees in Turkey Josep Borrell