Fearing that thousands of desperate refugees may show up at their doorstep after the Balkan route to Europe was officially closed, neighboring Albania and Bulgaria are beefing up security along their borders with Greece.
Bulgaria, which has already stationed military troops on the border, said it plans to to build a fence “in case of an increase in migrant pressure” while Albania is enlisting the help of Italian forces.
Italy said it will hold joint military patrols with Albania on the Greek border, fearing that refugees may seek to enter Europe through Italy or Montenegro through the Adriatic Sea.
“Up until now there are no indications that there is a flow of migrants through the Adriatic but it stands to reason that with the closure of the Balkan route another route may open,” said Italian Interior Minister Angelino Alfano.
EU Home Affairs Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos told reporters in Brussels during a meeting of interior ministers that unless a “regular and safe window” is found for refugees, new routes into Europe will indeed inevitably open.
“Otherwise we shall see migrants and the ruthless smugglers that are behind them trying to find new routes.”
Source: Kathimerini