EU Commissioner: We were unprepared for refugee crisis

BELGRADE, Serbia

The European Union Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos has said EU countries were not prepared to deal with the refugee crisis.

Avramopoulos was speaking during an official visit to the Albanian capital Tirana on Friday.

Speaking at a joint news conference with Interior Minister Saimir Tahiri, Avramopoulos said that:

"Europe was unprepared and facing a problem like no other. EU countries were not prepared to deal with the refugee crisis."

Avramopoulos also announced that if Albania becomes a transit country for refugees, the EU is to help to deal with the influx.

During the visit Avramopoulos also met President Bujar Nishani, Prime Minister Edi Rama and the Foreign Minister Ditmir Bushati.