{VOA NEWS} – Thousands of migrants trying to reach northern Europe are now stranded in Greece after Macedonia closed its border Wednesday, police officials said.
The decision comes a day after Slovenia, Croatia and Serbia closed their borders to transiting migrants, with exceptions being made only for asylum-seekers.
It effectively closes the so-called “Balkan route” taken by many migrants headed for wealthier nations in western Europe, with Slovenian Prime Minister Miro Cerar saying, “The (Balkan) route for illegal migrations no longer exists.”
Slovenia’s action is in line with a decree made Monday at a European Union meeting in Brussels that EU members must return to enforcement of the open-border Schengen agreement, which says nations can bar entry to any migrants who do not plan to apply for asylum in that country. READ MORE OF THIS STORY
