In a statement agreed upon by ministers at a meeting in Brussels, the 27 states said the "situation at the EU's external borders is not acceptable." Earlier, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government denied that it was using the threat of a wave of migrants to "blackmail" the EU. But the EU statement said the meeting "strongly rejects Turkey's use of migratory pressure for political purposes". Ankara wants Brussels to step up support for refugees from Syria and Turkey's increasingly intense confrontation with the Damascus regime.

But EU members insist Turkey must adhere to a 2016 deal in which it agreed to prevent refugees and migrants from crossing to Greece in return for billions of euros in aid. "Illegal crossings will not be tolerated," the statement said, warning to take all necessary measures, in accordance with EU and international law. It said “Migrants should not be encouraged to endanger their lives by attempting illegal crossings by land or sea." The ministers urged Turkey to "relay this message and counter the dissemination of false information."