Tsipras on migration: "EU on right path, but going as slow as a turtle"

"The European Union is proceeding at a turtle's rate," he said, adding, however, that "decisions are in the right direction."

Speaking about the EU's agreement with Turkey on an "action plan" to help stem the flow of refugees toward Europe and encouraging those in the country to stay there, Tsipras said the issue of cooperating with Turkey on migration had been raised by Greece in March this year. The agreement with the neighbouring country would allow the setup of facilities at "hotspots" - areas which handled large numbers of migrants - and place the burden of dealing with the processing of people on Turkey itself. "This will allow us to reduce the massive cost of lives in the Aegean Sea by refugees who board boats of traffickers and place their life in danger," the PM said.

The agreement with with Turkey must not entail any compromises on criticial issues, he said, "especially on matters of national sovereignty, a point agreed upon by all EU members." Referring to Turkey's preliminary application for membership to the EU, he said, "The membership process has some principles. These principles and terms must be followed to the last detail."

He also reiterated that the EU should recognise the huge financial burden placed on countries like Greece in terms of refugees and should provide a loosening of fiscal policy demands as well as financial support, for these countries to be able to provide necessary humanitarian assistance.

"This is a stance that will be discussed in the future," he noted, "and we have supported it. It will have a direct impact on Greece's ability to respond to its obligations and to its great humanitarian obligation to welcome refugees and face the massive challenges of these [migrant] flows that exceed its abilities to cope," he added.