VIENNA: Germany´s embattled Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Saturday that Europe needs to secure more deals with third countries on sending back migrants who do **t qualify for asylum.
"We want to stop illegal immigration while living up to our humanitarian responsibilities," Merkel said after talks in Vienna with counterparts along the Balkan migrant route.
"It is necessary to get agreements with third countries, especially in Africa but also Pakistan and Afghanistan... so that it becomes clear that those with ** right to stay in Europe can go back to their home countries," she told reporters.
In March the EU and Turkey struck an accord under which Ankara promised to halt a mass influx of migrants into Greece in return for billions in aid and other sweeteners.
The influx has far from stopped, however, with many migrants attempting treacherous sea crossings from Libya or Egypt to Italy instead.