EU says ‘Yes’ to NATO migrant patrols in Aegean Sea

The EU said it would welcome any assistance in dealing with the refugee crisis referring to NATO’s involvement, European Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas stated in a news briefing.

“Of course it is for NATO to take a decision on the opportunity and modalities of the eventual involvement,” Mr. Schinas said.

“We welcome all discussions on potential measures which could contribute to addressing the refugee crisis, save lives at sea and improve the management of migratory flows and borders” he added.

The proposal for NATO’s involvement came after German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu agreed on asking NATO to help patrolling the Turkish coast to prevent smugglers from putting migrants into boats aiming to cross the Aegean Sea and reach Greece.

NATO will take any request to help with the refugee crisis “very seriously,” chief Jens Stoltenberg said on Tuesday.

The issue will be discussed by the defense ministers from the 28-nation alliance at a meeting which will take place in Brussels on Wednesday and Thursday.

“I think we will take very seriously the request from Turkey and other allies to look into what NATO can do to help them cope and deal with the crisis and all the challenges they face, not least in Turkey,” Mr. Stoltenberg stated during a news conference.

“I expect the ministers to discuss the request from Turkey and then agree on how we can follow up,” Mr. Stoltenberg added.