The Latest: EU concerned about migrant arrivals from Libya

THESSALONIKI, Greece – The Latest on Europe’s response to mass migration (all times local):

4:45 p.m.

The European Union’s president says he is concerned about an increase in the number of migrants arriving from Libya, as the EU focuses on sending people back to Turkey.

EU Council President Donald Tusk said Wednesday that “the numbers of would-be migrants in Libya are alarming,” and that member countries should be ready to help Italy and Malta should they call for it.

The EU’s executive arm estimates that more than 15,000 migrants have crossed the Mediterranean from Libya to Italy in the last month. Italy’s coast guard said that more than 2,000 were rescued on Tuesday.

More than 1 million people entered the EU last year seeking sanctuary or jobs, most of them arriving in the Greek islands from Turkey.

___

1:05 p.m.

New clashes have broken out between Macedonian police and stranded refugees and other migrants trying to scale a fence on Greece’s border with the country.

Greek authorities say Macedonian police fired tear gas and stun grenades to deter a group of about 30 people from trying to get over the razor-wire fence using blankets.

No injuries were reported from Wednesday’s clashes at the closed Idomeni border crossing in northern Greece. On Sunday, severe clashes between stone-throwing migrants and Macedonian police using tear gas, stun grenades, rubber bullets and a water cannon left scores injured

About 11,000 people have been living in an informal tent city on the Greek side of the border for weeks, hoping Macedonia will let them continue their trek towards Europe’s prosperous heartland.