German Chancellor Angela Merkel has criticized Balkan nations for closing borders to migrants. In the past 24 hours, four Balkan states have closed their borders to migrants without documents and EU visas.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/D. Dilkoff
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After Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia and Macedonia closed their borders to migrants over the past day, Merkel said Wednesday the Balkan nations' measures to stop the flow of migrants would be unsustainable without a broader EU response to the refugee crisis.
Closing borders "is not the solution to the entire problem," Merkel said in an interview with public broadcaster MDR. Rather there must be an agreement among the EU's 28 members, she said.
Merkel's comments clashed with a statement by European Union President Donald Tusk, who earlier had welcomed the change, saying the Balkan states were simply implementing an important part of the EU plan to tackle the refugee crisis.
Several hundred thousand refugees and economic migrants have plied the Western Balkan route over the past year, many on their way to Germany after making the Aegean crossing to Greece from Turkey.
The Western Balkan nations have slowly been reducing the number of refugees allowed through their frontiers for weeks, culminating in the closing of borders this week to halt the flood of irregular migrants.
The domino effect comes as EU leaders at a summit on Monday said the irregular migrant flows along the Balkan route "have now come to an end." At Merkel's urging, the summit statement distinctly avoided using the word "closed."
The strategy has left thousands stranded between borders or without a clear way forward. In Greece alone, the number of marooned migrants is estimated to be around 36,000. The restrictions have also reduced the number of migrants arriving in Germany.
Germany is pinning its hopes on a broader EU deal with Turkey, in which Ankara would accept Syrian and other migrants from Greek islands in exchange for EU countries taking some Syrians directly from Turkey.
The migrant deal also includes financial aid to Turkey, political concessions on visa liberalization for Turkish citizens and the acceleration of Ankara's EU bid.
cw/jil (dpa, epd)
How a selfie with Merkel changed a refugee's life
Are you addicted to taking selfies? Or do you laugh them off as a trend among teenagers? For Anas Modamani one particular selfie proved to be life-changing.
Image: Anas Modamani
Meeting Angela Merkel
While in a refugee camp in Berlin Spandau, Anas Modamani heard that the German Chancellor Angela Merkel was coming for a visit and would be talking to refugees. The 19-year-old Syrian, who is quite fond of social media, went to take a selfie. He was hoping for the selfie to inspire a real change in his life..
Image: Anas Modamani
Escape to Europe
When Modamani's house in Damascus was bombed, he fled with his parents and siblings to a smaller city called Garia. That is when Anas fled for Europe in the hope that his family could join him there, once he had made it. He first traveled to Lebanon and from there to Turkey and then on to Greece.
Image: Anas Modamani
Dangerous journey
Anas almost died on the way. In order to get to Greece from Turkey he had to travel in a rubber boat, like most refugees. Anas says the boat was overcrowded and eventually capsized and he almost drowned.
Image: Anas Modamani
Five weeks by foot
From Greece Anas traveled by foot to Macedonia. He continued to Hungary and Austria. In September 2015, he reached his final destination: Munich. Once in Germany, he decided he wants to move to Berlin. He has been living there ever since.
Image: Anas Modamani
Waiting for an asylum
Upon arrival to Berlin, Anas spent entire days in front of the LaGeSo, a refugee center in the city. The 19-year-old says that the situation at the LaGeSo was difficult, especially during the winter. Eventually he was sent to the refugee center in Berlin Spandau. He wanted to raise awareness to his situation as a refugee and a selfie with Merkel seemed like the perfect chance to do exactly that.
Image: Anas Modamani
A family at last
Anas says that the selfie with Chancellor Merkel was a life-changer for him. He got a lot of media attention after the photo was published online, and that is how his German foster family became aware of him. He has been living with them for 2 months now. They have been supporting him ever since he became a member of their family.
Image: Anas Modamani
Missing home
Since living with the Meeuw's Anas is happier than ever before. He is doing a German language course, has made a lot of friends and is doing a lot of cultural activities. He graduated high school in Syria and wants to pursue higher studies in Germany. But his main aim right now is to be officially granted asylum and to be able to bring his family to Germany as well.
Image: Anas Modamani
Negative sentiment towards refugees
Anas is hoping for a good and safe life in Germany. But he is worried about the current sentiment towards refugees in the country. He thinks that the negative mood might escalate and have an impact on the laws in regard to refugees. Anas fears that he might not be granted asylum after all, thus ending his dream of bringing his family to Germany.
