Werner Faymann

Prime Minister Boyko Borissov had a meeting with the Special Envoy of the General Secretary of the UN on youth employment Werner Faymann. Ensuring a higher quality of life for young people in Bulgaria, as well as overcoming youth unemployment and guaranteeing quality education are among the main priorities of the Bulgarian government, emphasised Borissov.

Experts are expecting heightened migrant pressure on the Bulgarian border with Turkey in April.

The forecast is based on the analyses of potential risks and information gathered by the security services, Darik radio informs.

At present the refugee flow in the region of Burgas has been put under control.

Austria's Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz has called for stepping up border controls to shut off the Mediterranean route leading through Italy to central Europe following the closure of the Western Balkan route for migrants.

EU president Donald Tusk said on March 1 he would press Ankara for "a more intensive engagement" in the migrant crisis when he meets Turkey's president and prime minister later this week.

Austria has asked the European Commission for EUR 600 M to cover the costs related to providing care for a larger-than-expected number of asylum seekers accepted by the country last year.

The request had been sent by Austrian Finance Minister Hans Jörg Schelling to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on January 25, Austrian daily Kurier reported on Saturday.

Austria has decided to cap the number of refugees it wants to accept to 37,500 this year and a total of 127,500 through 2019.

The country accepted 90,000 claims last year - more than 1% of its population.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras had a series of brief meetings on the sidelines of the Climate Change Conference COP21 that is held in Paris.

Mr. Tsipras met with Suwith Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, Albanian President Bujar Nishani and the President of Bolivia Evo Morales.

Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann cast doubt on the workability of the so-called migrant hotspots European leaders plan to create by the end of next month in Greece and Italy to help manage large numbers of refugees. 

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras arrived at the airport of Mytilene, Lesvos island shortly before 14:00 in order to have a meeting with Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann, the mayor of Lesbos, Spyros Galinos, and other bodies focusing on refugees crisis.

According to LesvosPost.gr Mr. Tsipras arrived at the island accompanied by strong police presence.

Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann is visiting Athens this week to help Greece tackle its huge refugee problem.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras will accompany the Austrian leader to the island of Lesbos in the east Aegean, one of the “hotspots” where refugees are registered before being relocated to other EU countries.