Balkans: Refugees and migrants beaten by police, left in legal limbo and failed by EU

Amnesty International published a report in July 2015 regarding the situation of migrants crossing the Balkan region to access the European Union.

The report warnes that thousands of refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants – including children – were suffering violent abuse and extortion at the hands of the authorities and criminal gangs. The organisation also criticised the EU's asylum and migration system, which kept migrants unprotected at its borders, in Serbia and FYR Macedonia.

• Primary Source

Amnesty International: Europe’s Borderlands: Violations against refugees and migrants in Macedonia, Serbia and Hungary [Report, 2015] https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/eur70/1579/2015/en/

Deutsche Welle, 07.07.15: Amnesty International: Refugees abused while passing through Balkans http://dw.com/p/1Ftkp

Hurriet Daily News, 07.07.15: Amnesty accuses Balkans of abusing EU-bound migrants http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/amnesty-accuses-balkans-of-abusing-eu-bound-migrants-.aspx?pageID=238&nID=85065&NewsCatID=359

Euronews, 07.07.15: Alarm bells sounded over plight of refugees crossing the Balkans http://www.euronews.com/2015/07/07/alarm-bells-sounded-over-plight-of-refugees-crossing-the-balkans/

ESO: Background information: Serbia receives assistance to stem illegal migrant flows http://www.europeansources.info/record/serbia-receives-assistance-to-stem-illegal-migrant-flows-migrant-crisis-eu-to-help-hungary-tackle-big-influx/

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