First migrant hot-spots in Greece to be ready in two weeks, EU Commission's Andreeva says

Andreeva also confirmed that the first refugee relocation will take place on Friday, moving Eritrean refugees from Italy to Sweden.

She said that European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker spoke on the phone with Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann on Tuesday, following the latter's visit to the Greek island of Lesvos, one of the main arrival points for refugees from the Turkish coast. Faymann proposed that additional staff and expert personnel be sent to assist the efforts of the European border agency Frontex in the region.

European Commission spokesperson Margaritis Schinas, meanwhile, noted that the Commission has sent experts in addition to Frontex personnel to Greece to assist local authorities with the task of recording and registering refugees, both in the islands and in Athens. He said a central team was stationed in Piraeus to coordinate the effort, adding that both additional staff and money were needed and the Commission was "working hard to achieve this."

He also referred to cooperation with Turkey on the refugee issue, saying there was a "mutual will to move quickly".