The European Union and Canada have tried to remain upbeat about the prospects for their trans-Atlantic free trade pact despite a small Belgian region persisting in its refusal to back the deal.

The first migrants deported from Greek islands under a disputed EU-Turkey deal were shipped back to Turkey in a drive to shut down the main route by which a million people fleeing war and poverty crossed the Aegean Sea in the last year.

Greece has sent its European creditors a last-moment proposal meant to unfreeze talks on its bailout programme and end uncertainty over its future in the euro.