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Greek intelligence officers have discovered the Turkish plans which they say involve thousands of dinghies and motorboats already being gathered along Turkey's western coast. The analysts said Syrian migrants are preparing to board the vessels and wash up on Greek shores "within a matter of weeks". National intelligence officials estimate at least 3,000 undocumented migrants could enter Greece each day under the plan.

Getty Turkey is threatening to wage war on Europe for trying to freeze accession talks

Opening Turkey's floodgates will spell war or wreak the havoc of one Athanassios Drougas

They said the plans are being supported by Recep Tayyip Erdogan who has been battling the European Parliament since they voted to halt talks to let Turkey into the union last week. Although the vote is non-binding the politicians have put up a political wall between the EU and Mr Erdogan.

Getty Migrants have been arriving in Turkey in their thousands

During a speech in Istanbul on Saturday, the country's president warned: "If you go any further, these border gates will be opened. Neither me nor my people will be affected by these dry threats. It wouldn't matter if all of you approved the European Parliament vote. "We are the ones who feed three-three and a half million refugees in this country. You have betrayed your promises."

In March this year, Turkey entered into an agreement with the EU in which they accept Syrian migrants who have made their way from Turkey to Greece. In return for accepting the migrants, Turkish citizens get visa-free access to the EU and the government gets monetary rewards. However, Turkey's human rights attitude has continually threatened to topple its accession hopes.

Google Maps President Erdogan is gathering boats on Turkey's west coast to send migrants to Europe

Getty The Turkish coast guard is constantly picking up migrants on the west coast near Izmir

Athanassios Drougas, an intelligence expert in Athens, told The Times: "No one is underestimating Mr Erdogan and his unpredictability these days. "These plans, along with explicit threats that the Turkish president has made in recent weeks, have Greece's joint chiefs of staff seriously concerned. "They are fearful and they have told the political leadership here that if Turkey opens the floodgates yet again, Greece, in its current state of financial and social distress, will not be able to withstand the shock. "It will spell war or wreak the havoc of one."

Greek migrant crisis Tue, June 28, 2016 Hundreds of migrants deported to Turkey, as part of EU-Turkey Refugee Deal. Play slideshow EPA 1 of 141 Greek Orthodox monk welcoming refugees arriving on a dinghy on a northeastern coast of the island of Lesvos, Greece

Greece is already struggling to cope as more than 60,000 refugees are stranded in the country due to several Balkan states closing their borders last February, leaving them with nowhere else to go. Five Aegean islands close to Turkey's western coast are estimated to be hosting 16,000 asylum seekers in limbo. Dr Drougas, added: "It's no surprise that the Hellenic Navy and special units have been undertaking increased exercises around Greek islands, mainly in the northern Aegean, for fear of a sudden attack in the case of a dramatic deterioration in Ankara's relations with the EU."