German chancellor Angela Merkel and the European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker are trying to change the wording of an EU statement declaring the refugee route through the Western Balkans is "closed".
They argue the route remains open for Syrian and Iraqi refugees, and therefore should not be declared closed, German news channel NTV reported.
A draft EU statement, seen by Reuters, said: “Irregular flows of migrants along the western Balkans route are coming to an end; this route is now closed.”
Martin Schultz, president of the European Parliament, appeared to support their stance.
According to The Guardian, he said: “I don’t believe that this is a summit in which doors will be closed. I hope that we can find a sensible and humanitarian solution for refugees who desperately need our protection.”
EU leaders are holding a key summit with Turkey, aimed at preventing a repeat of last summer's influx of refugees.
Turkey insists it maintains an "open door" policy towards Syrians, but human rights groups say only those with serious or urgent medical conditions have been allowed to cross in the last year.
