(VOVworld) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Tuesday that pictures of desperate migrants trying to reach western Europe via the Balkans show the urgency of next Monday’s EU summit.

German Chancellor Angela addresses joint news conference in Berlin. (Photo: Thomson/ Reuters)

Merkel said the pictures show the necessity of resolving the problems in Greece and restoring Europe’s Schengen system of open borders as soon as possible. She said she is in frequent contact with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to discuss migrant issues. She underlined that the EU will help Turkey protect its border and ensure that no country suffers an overload. Merkel will go to Paris on Friday to meet with President Hollande before the EU-Turkey summit and EC summit in Brussels.

In related news, Belgium and Germany have reached a deal with Morocco’s government to repatriate Moroccan refugees who migrate illegally to Belgium and Germany.