Thousands stranded in Greece as EU leaders prepare for emergency summit

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As EU leaders prepare to meet their Turkish counterparts, thousands remained trapped in Greece. Credit: ITV News

Video report from ITV News Senior International Correspondent John Irvine.

As European Union leaders prepare to meet their Turkish counterparts to discuss the migrant crisis at an emergency summit on Monday, thousands of refugees and migrants remain stranded in Greece.

And unless the two sides can reach agreement, the Greeks will continue to be left with the task of rescuing and hosting them.

Cold weather and a risky and perilous journey have done little to stem the numbers arriving - 2,000 a day, every day arrive on the Greek islands.

Not all will be allowed to stay, as EU countries look to send non-Syrians back to Turkey. Many have been forced to flee after advances of terror groups including the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said his country would push for solidarity with the refugees and urge the burden to be fairly shared among EU member states.

He has accused Austria and the Balkan countries of "ruining Europe" by slowing the flow of migrants, trapping some 30,000 people in Greece waiting for Macedonia to reopen its border so they can head north.

"We are not pointing the finger to any other peoples or countries of Europe. We are against those who succumb to xenophobia and racism," Tsipras said. "We will continue to save lives ... and defend the human face of Europe."

"With the border closed to refugees and flows to the islands continuing, it is clear that relocation to other countries is urgent and must start immediately in high numbers. We will pursue this at the summit," he added.

This family from Afghanistan may not be allowed to stay, as the EU float plans to return non-Syrians to Turkey. Credit: ITV News

So far this year, 135,000 migrants have reached Europe, 126,000 via Turkey, and 418 have died, including 321 on the so-called eastern Mediterranean route from Turkey to Greece, according to the International Organisation of Migration.

The EU has offered Turkey €3 billion euros (£2.3 billion) to do more to stop migrants from attempting the perilous journey.

The migrant crisis has divided the EU's political leaders and threatened the bloc's open-border policy.