UN urges EU to speed registration, relocation of refugees

The European Union needs to quickly establish adequate reception centres in Greece to register asylum seekers and then distribute them across the bloc before winter sets in, the United Nations refugee agency said on Friday.

This is not a crisis at the moment that is being adequately managed. It is vital these measures be put in place,” UNHCR spokesman Adrian Edwards told a news briefing in Geneva.

The European Union offered Turkey a possible 3 billion euros ($3.4 billion) in aid on Thursday and the prospect of easier travel visas and “re-energised” talks on joining the bloc in return for its help stemming the flow of migrants to Europe.

Edwards, asked to comment on the proposed “action plan”, said: “I think the underlying principle remains the same, we are glad to see an agreement dealing with smugglers and trafficking. Details