Closure of Balkan route divides Europe

German Chancellor Angela Merkel criticised Balkan nations on the 9 March 2016 for closing borders to migrants. In the previous 24 hours, four Balkan states (Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia and Macedonia) had closed their borders to migrants without documents and EU visas.

The Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras warned that the EU 'has no future if it goes on like that'.

However, neighboring Austria, which often was seen as taking its cue from Germany, approved the move by the Balkan countries.

Meanwhile Greece was said to be considering clearing the refugee camp in the village of Idomeni on the border with Macedonia. Heavy rainfall had turned the camp, where around 14,000 people were waiting to be allowed to travel onwards, into a sea of mud.

Other countries such as Bulgaria, Albania and Italy expressed fears that alternative migrant routes would be established in the Adriatic and across their countries.

• Primary Source

ESO: Information Guide: European Migration Challenges http://www.europeansources.info/record/information-guide-european-migration-challenges/

ESO: Background information: International Summit: Meeting of the EU heads of state or government with Turkey, Brussels, 7 March 2016 http://www.europeansources.info/record/international-summit-meeting-of-the-eu-heads-of-state-or-government-with-turkey-brussels-7-march-2016/

ESO: Background information: Austrian restrictions trigger domino effect across Balkan refugee route http://www.europeansources.info/record/austrian-restrictions-trigger-domino-effect-across-balkan-refugee-route/

Deutsche Welle, 08.03.16: Merkel criticizes closing of Balkan route http://dw.com/p/1IAAB

Politico, 06.03.16: Balkan route closed, EU to declare http://www.politico.eu/article/balkan-route-closed-eu-to-declare/

Politico, 07.03.16: Western Balkans route far from ‘closed': map http://www.politico.eu/interactive/western-balkans-route-map-migration-refugees-crisis-europe-asylum/

BBC News, 10.03.16: Migrant crisis: Merkel condemns closure of Balkan route http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35772206

Euro|Topics: Debates, March 2016: Balkan route closed http://www.eurotopics.net/en/154971/balkan-route-closed

Kathimerini,10.03.16: Bulgaria and Albania take action fearing refugees massing at their doorstep http://www.ekathimerini.com/206876/article/ekathimerini/news/bulgaria-and-albania-take-action-fearing-refugees-massing-at-their-doorstep

The Local.it, 10.03.16: Italy fears 150k migrants could land as Balkan route closes http://www.thelocal.it/20160310/italy-fears-up-to-140k-migrants-could-arrive-as-balkan-route-closes

EurActiv, 15.03.16: Hundreds of refugees march out of Greek camp, cross to Macedonia http://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/hundreds-of-refugees-march-out-of-greek-camp-cross-to-macedonia/

EurActiv, 25.03.16: Bulgarian PM praises Macedonia, slams Greece over migrant crisis http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/bulgarian-pm-praises-macedonia-slams-greece-over-migrant-crisis/

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