Several EU states have demanded Athens toughen its lax border controls to stem the tide of illegals pouring into the rest of Europe via Greece. Greece became the European gateway for illegal immigrants after the Arab Spring erupted last year.

­A group of seven EU justice and home affairs ministers said if Greece doesn't tighten its immigration controls, other European Union states may be forced to reinstate the border checks abolished in 1995 under the Schengen agreement.

A joint paper agreed upon by the seven countries, including Germany,UK and France, urges Greece to "live up to its responsibilities" and "keep its house in order" by securing its border with Turkey.

"The question is still open on what happens when a country is not in a position to sufficiently safeguard its borders – as we are currently experiencing in Greece," said Hans-Peter Friedrich, the German interior minister.

The Austrian Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner said the Greek-Turkish border is “open like a barn door."