Macedonia urged to protect EU external borders

This Main Focus from Euro|Topics offers English (+ French and German) translations of a selections of articles in European news sources on this topic.

In view of the consistently high number of refugees who arrive in Europe via the Balkan route, EU politicians are calling on Macedonia to play a more active role in border control. At last effective border protection is becoming a reality, some commentators write in delight. Others find it absurd that a non-EU member is supposed to provide the solution to the refugee crisis.

ESO: Background information: Balkan countries implement tighter border restrictions http://www.europeansources.info/record/balkan-countries-implement-tighter-border-restrictions/

ESO: Background information: Refugee Crisis: Greece activates EU Civil protection mechanism, agrees Frontex operation at border with former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and triggers RABIT mechanism http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-refugee-crisis-greece-activates-eu-civil-protection-mechanism-agrees-frontex-operation-at-border-with-former-yugoslav-republic-of-macedonia-and-triggers-rabit-mechanism/

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

Balkanalysis, 23.12.15: Macedonian Migration Policy and the Future of Europe http://www.balkanalysis.com/macedonia/2015/12/23/macedonian-migration-policy-and-the-future-of-europe/

Frontex: News, 19.01.16: FRONTEX publishes analysis of borders in the Western Balkans for Q3, 2015 http://frontex.europa.eu/news/frontex-publishes-analysis-of-borders-in-the-western-balkans-for-q3-RgTWDN

Kathimerini, 21.01.16: FYROM partially reopens border with Greece to migrants http://www.ekathimerini.com/205274/article/ekathimerini/news/fyrom-partially-reopens-border-with-greece-to-migrants

EurActiv, 21.01.16: Macedonia ‘temporarily’ closes its Greek border to migrants http://www.euractiv.com/sections/justice-home-affairs/macedonia-temporarily-closes-its-greek-border-migrants-321178

Politico, 06.02.16: Macedonia gets help to stem migrant flows http://www.politico.eu/article/syria-migration-crisis-macedonia-greece-schengen/

Kathimerini, 06.02.16: EU ministers want to buttress borders to stem refugee flow http://www.ekathimerini.com/205739/article/ekathimerini/news/eu-ministers-want-to-buttress-borders-to-stem-refugee-flow

---