The European Union has rejected pressure from Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, through his encouragement of Syrian refugees to enter Greece.

European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen said before Monday’s talks with Erdoğan: “The events at the Greek-Turkish border clearly point to politically motivated pressure on the EU’s external border. Finding a solution to this situation will require relieving the pressure.”

After a 40-minute meeting, she said, “We expressed very clearly to President Erdoğan our commitment to move forward on these issues, provided that it is reciprocal.”

Turkey hosts about 3.6 million Syrian refugees but closed its border to further entries in 2016. In March 2016, Ankara agreed to prevent movement to Europe in return for 6 billion Euros in EU assistance, about half of which has been delivered.

On February 28, Turkey launched attacks on hundreds of pro-Assad targets in Idlib Province in northwest Syria, a day after 36 Turkish troops were killed by a Russian or Assad regime strike. On the same day, Turkish authorities began moving refugees at low or no cost to the Turkish border.

Last Thursday, Erdoğan pulled back from military pressure on the 10-month Russian-regime offensive in northwest Syria that killed almost 2,000 civilians and displaced more than a million. He agreed with Russian President Vladimir Putin on a ceasefire and a partition of Idlib, allowing pro-Assad forces to hold about half of the last major opposition territory in Syria.

See also Syria Daily, March 6: Turkey and Russia Agree Ceasefire and Partition of Idlib Province

But he kept up the refugee challenge to Europe. Greek border police blocked entry by land or sea, firing on the refugees with tear gas and stun grenades. At least one Syrian was killed.

Erdoğan: Europe Cannot Be Indifferent

Erdoğan spoke with both EU and NATO officials on Monday. He said on arrival in Brussels:

The crisis stemming from Syria, with its security and humanitarian aspects, is threatening our region and even all of Europe. No European country has the luxury to remain indifferent.

We expect concrete support from all our allies in the fight that Turkey has been carrying out alone….NATO is in a critical period during which it needs to clearly show support.

The EU says about 42,000 refugees and migrants, including about 5,500 unaccompanied children, are on Greek islands in the Aegean Sea.

France, Portugal, Finland, Germany, and Luxembourg have said they will accept some children. EU migration ministers will discuss the issue in Brussels on Friday.

Erdoğan sought leverage with NATO through a discussion with Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg:

It is beyond reason and comprehension for an ally and a neighboring country [Greece] to blame Turkey for the migrant wave. I clearly pointed out to Mr. Secretary-General that we won’t allow this country to exploit this issue or the EU for undeserved gains.

But Stoltenberg avoided any intervention on the issue, merely saying that the treatment of refugees is “a common challenge” and criticizing the Russian-regime offensive for “causing untold civilian suffering”.