Turkey says 3 million more may leave Syria

As part of bolstering Europe’s borders, Frontex – the EU’s border security agency – is almost doubling staff deployed in and around Greece and Italy, both primary entry points for migrants looking to enter the EU.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and the Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann will visit Lesvos island on Tuesday.

The EU-staffed “hotspots” – teams of border, legal and asylum experts – are considered key to identifying those in need of worldwide protection among the tens of thousands of people arriving in Greece, as well as Italy.

De Maiziere said Tuesday it isn’t clear what effect colder weather will have and pointed to efforts toward an global solution.

Romania was one of four eastern European countries to oppose a European Union resettlement plan for 120,000 asylum-seekers.

European governments and EU institutions have been scrambling for a coherent response to this unprecedented influx of people, a few closing their borders then reopening them, Hungary erecting border fences and Germany briefly opening its doors to all Syrian refugees.

In Norway, the number of migrants grew fourfold last month to 4,900 compared with September 2014, with 13,250 so far this year – 4,500 more than at the same time last year.

Austria, a nation of around 8.5 million people, has become the main thoroughfare for migrants traveling to Europe via Greece and the Balkans.

Turkey hosts around 2 million refugees, many from Syria and Iraq.

EU Council President Donald Tusk told lawmakers Tuesday that “according to Turkish estimates, another 3 million potential refugees may come from Aleppo and its neighbourhood”.

He warned that “the world around us does not intend to help Europe” and that a few of the EU’s neighbors “look with satisfaction at our troubles”.