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Balkan Nations Shut Down March of Migrants Balkan Nations Shut Down March of Migrants
(about 5 hours later)
LONDON — The route that more than one million migrants have used to traverse southeastern Europe was effectively shut down Wednesday, when four Balkan nations stopped waving the migrants through on their journey northward. LONDON — The route that more than one million migrants have used to traverse southeastern Europe was effectively shut down Wednesday, when four Balkan nations stopped waving the migrants through on their journey northward.
The four countries — Slovenia, Serbia, Croatia and Macedonia — have closed their borders to new migrants with the implicit backing of the European Union, which announced an agreement with Turkey on Tuesday to slow the flow of migrants.The four countries — Slovenia, Serbia, Croatia and Macedonia — have closed their borders to new migrants with the implicit backing of the European Union, which announced an agreement with Turkey on Tuesday to slow the flow of migrants.
The deal has not been completed — that is supposed to happen at a summit meeting next week. But within hours of the announcement from Brussels, Slovenia and Serbia announced new restrictions on the entry of migrants.The deal has not been completed — that is supposed to happen at a summit meeting next week. But within hours of the announcement from Brussels, Slovenia and Serbia announced new restrictions on the entry of migrants.
“From midnight, there will be no more migration on the Western Balkan route as it took place so far,” the interior minister of Slovenia, Vesna Gyorkos Znidar, said on Tuesday evening.“From midnight, there will be no more migration on the Western Balkan route as it took place so far,” the interior minister of Slovenia, Vesna Gyorkos Znidar, said on Tuesday evening.
Serbia quickly followed suit on Wednesday. “Serbia cannot allow itself to become a collective center for refugees, so it will harmonize all its measures with those of the E.U. member states,” the country’s Interior Ministry said in a statement.Serbia quickly followed suit on Wednesday. “Serbia cannot allow itself to become a collective center for refugees, so it will harmonize all its measures with those of the E.U. member states,” the country’s Interior Ministry said in a statement.
Prime Minister Tihomir Oreskovic of Croatia said at a news conference on Wednesday: “The message is clear. Illegal migrants will no longer pass along this route.”Prime Minister Tihomir Oreskovic of Croatia said at a news conference on Wednesday: “The message is clear. Illegal migrants will no longer pass along this route.”
Mr. Oreskovic said the agreement with Turkey had reduced the incentive for migrants to head to Europe. Like other leaders, he attributed the problem to traffickers who lure migrants into taking dangerous voyages across the Aegean Sea. “In what way can we destroy this business model?” he asked. “That’s what it is, a business model.” Mr. Oreskovic said the agreement with Turkey had reduced the incentive for migrants to head to Europe. Like other leaders, he attributed the problem to traffickers who lure migrants into taking dangerous voyages across the Aegean Sea. “In what way can we destroy this business model?” he asked.
The decision by the four Balkan countries does not affect regular vistors, like tourists or business travelers, but it is an effort to stop undocumented migrants from passing through the countries to seek asylum elsewhere. Very few migrants have applied for asylum in the Balkan countries. The decision by the four Balkan countries does not affect regular visitors, like tourists or business travelers, but is an effort to stop undocumented migrants from passing through the countries to seek asylum elsewhere. Very few have applied for asylum in the Balkan countries.
The shutdown of the migrant corridor is consistent with an effort by Brussels to restore order after the asylum system broke down last year.The shutdown of the migrant corridor is consistent with an effort by Brussels to restore order after the asylum system broke down last year.
Under the new agreement with Turkey, any unauthorized migrant arriving in Greece will be automatically sent back to Turkey, and for each Syrian sent back, the European Union will resettle a Syrian refugee from Turkey. Under the agreement with Turkey, any unauthorized migrant arriving in Greece will be automatically sent back to Turkey, and for each Syrian sent back, the European Union will resettle a Syrian refugee from Turkey.
The European Union has also pledged to expand humanitarian aid to help Turkey deal with the 2.7 million Syrian migrants living there; to expedite visa-free travel for Turks; and to reopen long-stalled negotiations over Turkey’s application to join the 28-nation bloc.The European Union has also pledged to expand humanitarian aid to help Turkey deal with the 2.7 million Syrian migrants living there; to expedite visa-free travel for Turks; and to reopen long-stalled negotiations over Turkey’s application to join the 28-nation bloc.
Human rights groups, however, have objected to the European Union’s proposed deal with Turkey, saying that returning asylum-seeking migrants en masse without first assessing their legal applications for refuge violate international law. About 2,000 migrants a day are entering Greece, observers have reported. Human rights groups, however, have objected to the European Union’s proposed deal with Turkey, saying that returning asylum-seeking migrants en masse without first assessing their legal applications for refuge violates international law. About 2,000 migrants a day are entering Greece, observers have reported.
“Lots of misery here at Idomeni border as 13K are trapped, 2 days of rains forecast,” Peter Bouckaert, the emergencies director at Human Rights Watch, wrote on Twitter on Wednesday morning, referring to the Greek village near the Macedonian border, where people have been pouring through in recent months, under increasingly miserable conditions. “Lots of misery here at Idomeni border as 13K are trapped, 2 days of rains forecast,” Peter Bouckaert, the emergencies director at Human Rights Watch, wrote on Twitter on Wednesday morning, referring to the Greek village near the Macedonian border, where people have been pouring through in recent months under increasingly miserable conditions.
As of Wednesday night, Mr. Bouckaert said, migrants appeared to be leaving Idomeni for other points within Greece — as word of the blocked route through the Balkans rippled through the encampments. As of Wednesday night, Mr. Bouckaert said, migrants appeared to be leaving Idomeni for other points within Greece as word of the blocked route through the Balkans rippled through the encampments.
The situation in much of the region seemed wretched, though not nearly as bad as the scenes of migrants stranded at the Budapest train station and at a camp in Calais, France, that became known as the Jungle.The situation in much of the region seemed wretched, though not nearly as bad as the scenes of migrants stranded at the Budapest train station and at a camp in Calais, France, that became known as the Jungle.
In Slovenia, about 460 of the nearly 478,000 migrants who have entered the country since last October have applied for asylum there; the rest moved northward, with ambitions of reaching Germany and Sweden and other countries viewed as friendlier to asylum seekers. In Slovenia, about 460 of the nearly 478,000 migrants who have entered the country since October have applied for asylum there; the rest moved northward, with ambitions of reaching Germany, Sweden and other countries viewed as friendlier to asylum seekers.
In Croatia, 408 migrants are stuck in a camp in a small northern town of Slavonski Brod. “We’re in the process of defining the terms of their return to Greece,” Croatia’s interior minister, Vlaho Orepic, said on Wednesday, without further explanation. In Croatia, 408 migrants are stuck in a camp in a small northern town, Slavonski Brod. “We’re in the process of defining the terms of their return to Greece,” Croatia’s interior minister, Vlaho Orepic, said on Wednesday, without further explanation.
United Nations officials say there are around 1,000 migrants in Serbia and 1,500 in Macedonia. United Nations officials say there are around 2,000 migrants in Serbia and 1,500 in Macedonia.
In northern Macedonia, 437 people were stranded, unable to enter Serbia but unwilling to return to the squalid conditions of the reception center in the northern village of Tabanovce, where some 1,000 people were stuck. Many were women and children. As many as 2,000 people were stranded in Serbia, the United Nations refugee agency reported. In northern Macedonia, 437 of them were stranded, unable to enter Serbia but unwilling to return to the squalid conditions of the reception center in the northern village of Tabanovce, where some 1,000 people were stuck. Many were women and children.
Greece remains the largest bottleneck; around 34,000 migrants are scattered around the country, on islands close to the Turkish coast; in the capital, Athens; and in the country’s second-largest city, Thessaloniki. Greece remains the largest bottleneck. Around 34,000 migrants are scattered around the country, on islands close to the Turkish coast; in the capital, Athens; and in the country’s second-largest city, Thessaloniki.
The European Union has given tacit approval to the actions of these countries, as it strives to restore order to the asylum-seeking process and to restore the integrity of the Schengen area, the 26-nation passport-free travel zone that is one of the bloc’s most tangible accomplishments. The European Union has given tacit approval to the actions of these countries as it strives to restore order to the asylum-seeking process and to restore the integrity of the Schengen area, the 26-nation passport-free travel zone that is one of the bloc’s most tangible accomplishments.
Slovenia and Croatia are members of the European Union, and Serbia and Macedonia hope to join. Of the four countries, only Slovenia is part of the Schengen area. (Greece is also part of Schengen.)Slovenia and Croatia are members of the European Union, and Serbia and Macedonia hope to join. Of the four countries, only Slovenia is part of the Schengen area. (Greece is also part of Schengen.)
Natasha Bertaud, a spokeswoman for the European Commission, the European Union’s executive body, said that Slovenia’s decision to block refugees was part of the effort to restore order. Natasha Bertaud, a spokeswoman for the European Commission, the European Union’s executive body, said Slovenia’s decision to block refugees was part of the effort to restore order.
“What this means is that third-country nationals who do not satisfy the entry conditions into the Schengen area, or who have not made an asylum request despite having had the opportunity to do so, will not be given entry into Slovenia,” Ms. Bertaud said at a news conference.“What this means is that third-country nationals who do not satisfy the entry conditions into the Schengen area, or who have not made an asylum request despite having had the opportunity to do so, will not be given entry into Slovenia,” Ms. Bertaud said at a news conference.
The Slovenian policy was step toward ending the “wave-through approach,” she added. The Slovenian policy was a step toward ending the “wave-through approach,” she added.