Migrants are attempting to cross into Greece from Turkey. The protests were organized as thousands of refugees gathered at the Greek border after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced last week that his country would no longer stop migrants crossing into the EU.
The group "Seebrücke" ("Sea Bridge"), which led the protests, wrote online that it stands "against the policy of sealing off the EU and for the opening of the borders."
Seebrücke says it wants "safe passages and an end to the criminalization of civil sea rescue."
As migrants make their way to the border, Greek officers fire more tear gas into the crowd. Right in front of my eyes, five people are severely injured — one of them is still a child. The migrants react angrily, with some throwing stones at the border guards.
Amid the chaotic, violent skirmishes, a tall young man throws his hands in the air. In fluent Turkish, English and Persian he yells: "We've had enough of war! Stop throwing stones and sit down. We want another life."
Merkel has expressed solidarity with Greece's attempt to hold people back after Greek security forces used tear gas to stop migrants crossing the border. The German chancellor has so far remained firm that the EU's borders are closed.
"We will support Greece with all our might,” German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer tweeted, "Europe's borders are not open to refugees from Turkey, and this applies to our German borders as well.”
The European Commission remained silent on the decision by Greece to suspend asylum applications. Legally, Greece has to ensure access to asylum procedures of persons in need of international protection. The United Nations directly condemned of the Greek move, which it described as a violation of international and EU law. The International Committee of Jurists, composed of judges and lawyers from around the world, has made similar critical comments.
Ursula von der Leyen (EU Commission president), Charles Michel (EU Council president) and David Sassoli (European Parliament president) never mentioned the controversial Greek decision - and journalists were not given an opportunity to ask any questions. Instead, all three, along with prime minister Mitsotakis made statements, shaping a narrative of solidarity with Greece.
Ursula von der Leyen, sent a strong message of support to Greece in its attempts to stop migrants crossing its border from Turkey.
"Our first priority is to ensure order is maintained at the Greek external border, which is also a European border." She promised Greece, which she called a "European aspida [shield]", €700m (£608m; $780m) in financial aid.
Frontex is also sending more manpower and equipment as part of a so-called rapid response team.
"Frontex is preparing the deployment of one off shore vessel and six coastal vessels, two helicopters, one aircraft, three thermal vision vehicles, 100 border guards in addition to current 530 border guards will be deployed by Frontex at the land and at the sea borders," said Von der Leyen.
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