About: Western Balkan route
Migrant crossings down 13% in 2020 due to Covid
The number of illegal border crossings into the European Union fell by 13% to around 124,000 last year, the EU's border agency said Friday (8 January).
Bosnian police tussle with migrants protesting over camp conditions
Bosnian police scuffled on Saturday (15 February) with hundreds of migrants who tried to break out of an overcrowded camp during a protest over conditions at the facility and their treatment by authorities in nearby Croatia. The Miral camp lies...
Balkans should build on momentum, focus on reforms – EU ambassador
The attitude that the EU owes something to the candidate countries in the Western Balkans is wrong, as well as the belief that concerns over the growing Russian influence in the region will be enough to bring someone "closer to the EU”, according to the EU Ambassador to Montenegro, Aivo Orav.
Austrian Presidency reveals iconoclastic plans to beef up EU’s external borders
In interviews with two major European newspapers, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz lifted the veil on the plans of his country's EU presidency, which starts on 1 July. Unsurprisingly, the main highlight is to fortify the EU’s external borders.
Juncker: Normalisation deal with Kosovo is key for Serbia’s EU bid
The rule of law, judiciary and a legally binding agreement on normalising relations with Kosovo are the main challenges Serbia faces with on the road to EU membership, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker highlighted during a visit to Belgrade.
Amnesty International slams Slovenia’s new anti-migration law
Amnesty International said the Slovenian Parliament should reject amendments to the Aliens Act that, once triggered, would breach international law.
More migrants homeless in Serbia as winter closes in
Rising numbers of migrants from the Middle East and Central Asia are ending up homeless in sub-zero temperatures in Serbia with more arriving from Bulgaria as countries further along the so-called Balkan route tighten their borders.
Croatian police finds 67 migrants in van, arrests Bulgarians over trafficking
Dozens of migrants, mainly from Afghanistan, have been taken to hospital in Croatia after police stopped a van carrying 67 people, and arrested two Bulgarian citizens suspected of human trafficking, the Balkan country's police said.
Austria attracts member state interest in its refugee policy
This year, Austria expects to welcome fewer refugees than it predicted it would. The Vienna government wants to lower its upper limit on new arrivals as a result and it's a policy that has attracted the attention of other EU countries. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Hungary urges EU to speed up Balkan accession talks
Hungary called on the European Union to speed up accession talks with the Western Balkans yesterday (29 November), so as to "protect" the bloc from a future influx of migrants.
Austria and Balkan states prepare for collapse of EU-Turkey deal
Austria said on Monday (7 November) it will meet with its Balkan neighbours to discuss what action they might take if a deal with Turkey aimed at restricting the flow of illegal migrants into the European Union collapses.
Croatia to coach Bosnians on how to join the EU
Croatia, the European Union’s newest member, has pledged to help its neighbour, Bosnia and Herzegovina, follow in its footsteps and join the bloc as soon as possible.
Hungary: The EU should solve the refugee crisis without Turkey ‘if necessary’
The EU should be ready to "defend herself alone" in the refugee crisis, if the deal with Ankara does not work out, a Hungarian official said on Tuesday (5 March). EURACTIV Greece reports.
Balkan Route ‘closed’ after cascade of border shutdowns
Slovenia and Serbia said on Tuesday (8 March) they would place new restrictions on the entry of migrants, putting extra obstacles in the way of those trying to reach the European Union via the Balkans.