Press Release: Meeting on the Western Balkans Migration Route: Leaders Agree on 17-point plan of action

Reports and analysis of a Meeting on the Western Balkans Migration Route, Brussels, 25 October 2015. Leaders representing Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia agreed to improve cooperation and step up consultation between the countries along the route and decided on pragmatic operational measures that can be implemented quickly to tackle the current refugee crisis in the region.

Specific operational measures were agreed under the following headings:

+ Permanent exchange of information
+ Limiting Secondary Movements
+ Supporting refugees and providing shelter and rest
+ Managing the migration flows together
+ Border management
+ Tackling smuggling and trafficking
+ Information on the rights and obligations of refugees and migrants
+ Monitoring

Euro|Topics wrote in its Main Focus on the 28 October 2015 that the 17-point action plan for countering chaos on the Balkan route agreed on in Brussels on the 25 October 2015 by the affected states continued to elicit strong reactions amongst commentators in the countries concerned. The region could be destabilised and human trafficking could increase, some commentators warned. Others pointed out that the key to solving the refugee crisis lay in Syria.

Following reports on the 28 October 2015 that Austria was considering building a border fence on part of its border with Slovenia, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann issued a joint statement warning that fences were not welcome in the EU. Austrian Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner said that the proposed fence was not about closing the border but about 'about ensuring an orderly, controlled entry into our country'.

ESO: Background informaton: President Juncker calls Leaders’ Meeting in Brussels on refugee flows along the Western Balkans route http://www.europeansources.info/record/statement-president-juncker-calls-leaders-meeting-in-brussels-on-refugee-flows-along-the-western-balkans-route/

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

European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: SPEECH/15/5905: Speaking Points of President Juncker – Press Conference on Western Balkans Route Leaders' Meeting http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-15-5905_en.htm

Politico, 26.10.15: Western Balkan countries agree to work together on migration http://www.politico.eu/article/commission-migration-proposal-draws-fire-merkel-refugee-merkel-juncker/

EurActiv, 26.10.15: Leaders clash at migration mini-summit http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/leaders-clash-migration-mini-summit-318840

EUObserver, 26.10.15: Balkan leaders to stop pushing migrants to neighbours https://euobserver.com/migration/130832

Deutsche Welle, 26.10.15: EU agrees migration plan with Balkan leaders http://dw.com/p/1Gu4o

BBC News, 26.10.15: Migrant crisis: Thousands of new reception places agreed http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-34634214

Kathimerini, 26.10.15: Greece agrees to host 50,000 refugees as part of new EU plan http://www.ekathimerini.com/202844/article/ekathimerini/news/greece-agrees-to-host-50000-refugees-as-part-of-new-eu-plan

European Council: Statement, 25.10.15: Doorstep by President Donald TUSK at the Leaders' meeting on refugees http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2015/10/25-doorstep-tusk-mini-summit/

EurActiv, 27.10.15: Fly, don't walk, EU will urge Balkan migrants http://www.euractiv.com/sections/justice-home-affairs/fly-dont-walk-eu-will-urge-balkan-migrants-318882

European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: PRESS RELEASE: IP/15/5924, 27.10.15: Progress following Western Balkans Route Leaders' Meeting http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-15-5924_en.htm

EUObserver, 26.10.15: Balkan migrant route plan full of caveats https://euobserver.com/migration/130842

Euro|Topics: Main Focus, 28.10.15: Balkans struggling under burden of refugees http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER172269-Balkans-struggling-under-burden-of-refugees

Euro|Topics: Who's saying what: EU plan for the Balkan route http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/debatten/links-2015-10-balkanroute/

Euro|Topics: Main Focus, 27.10.15: 17-point plan against chaos on the Balkan route http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER172182-17-point-plan-against-chaos-on-the-Balkan-route

Politico, 29.10.15: EU considers civil mission in the Balkans http://www.politico.eu/article/eu-civil-mission-in-balkans-migration-route-support-crisis/

The Local.at, 28.10.15: Austrian leader says fences 'have no place' http://www.thelocal.at/20151028/austrian-leader-says-fences-have-no-place

The Local.at, 29.10.15: 4,000 refugees spend night in Spielfeld http://www.thelocal.at/20151029/4000-refugees-spend-night-in-spielfeld

European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: IP/15/5952, 29.10.15: Progress following Western Balkans Route Leaders' Meeting: Contact Points Video Conference http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-15-5952_en.htm

EurActiv, 30.10.15: Tsipras: Unlike Hungary, Athens will help resolve the refugee crisis http://www.euractiv.com/sections/justice-home-affairs/tsipras-unlike-hungary-athens-will-contribute-refugee-crisis-319027

European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: IP/15/6003, 05.11.15: Progress following Western Balkans Route Leaders' Meeting: Second Contact Points Video Conference http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-15-6003_en.htm

Spiegel Online International, 03.11.15: Hotspots: Europe Debates Initial Reception Centers for Refugees http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/europe-debates-initial-reception-centers-for-refugees-a-1060892.html

Frontex: Trends and Routes: Western Balkan route http://frontex.europa.eu/trends-and-routes/western-balkan-route/

European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: IP/15/6053, 11.11.15: Progress following Western Balkans Route Leaders' Meeting: Third Contact Points Video Conference http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-15-6053_en.htm

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