Eighteen migrants drown after boat sinks off Turkey’s southwestern coast

Persons suspected of organizing the trip were detained.

Merkel may also try to enlist the help of other leaders individually during the main summit, diplomats said.

The EU’s recently agreed action plan with Turkey has raised concerns in some member states that the EU is outsourcing its refugee crisis to Turkey and encouraging more migrants to remain in refugee camps in the country.

Some 80,000 refugees were rescued off Turkish coasts this year alone, while more than 3,000 died on their way to Greek islands via Turkey, the Turkish coast guard said.

According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), 801 919 people have arrived in Greece by sea from the beginning of the year until December 17, with another 4256 having arrived by land.

Turkish coastguards rescued the four other migrants.

The resettlement scheme is linked to a wider deal with Turkey under which Ankara has pledged to prevent migrants leaving for Greece in return for 3 billion euros ($3.25 billion)from the bloc, accelerated visa-free travel for Turks to the European Union and reviving long stalled membership talks.

The wider EU summit will discuss European Commission plans to create an EU coast guard, and other ways to strengthen external borders.

A spokeswoman for the EU said: “The EU is not aware of individual cases of “deportations” but the report will be considered with due attention, and followed up with the Turkish authorities, as appropriate”.

It says Denmark is tightening refugee policies because “too high number of refugees puts pressure on the Danish society and makes it more hard to ensure a successful integration of those who come to Denmark”.