Estonian PM doesn't rule out taking refugees direct from Turkey

GRANSEE - Reuters

German Chancellor Angela Merkel talks to Estonian Prime minister Taavi Roivas as he leaves after their meeting at Meseberg Palace on May 24, 2016 in Meseberg, outside Berlin - AFP photo

Estonian Prime Minister Taavi Roivas said on May 24 he would not exclude the possibility of his country taking in refugees directly from Turkey or other countries. 

Roivas said his country had agreed to take refugees from Greece and Italy and this was "ongoing work."

"But I would definitely not rule out (taking them from) Turkey or any other country as well so we are willing to do that, of course," he told Reuters during a visit to Germany, where he took part in a meeting of Germany's cabinet at Meseberg palace 60 km (37 miles) north of Berlin. 

More than a million migrants arrived in Europe last year. 

In an effort to stem arrivals, the European Union and Ankara signed a deal in March under which, for every Syrian refugee returned to Turkey, another would be resettled from Turkey to the EU. 

In the longer run, once EU states were satisfied Turkey had stopped the flow, the EU would admit more refugees directly from Turkey, though that would be voluntary.