Latest News from Macedonia
Bulgarian army steps in to buttress Macedonia border
Bulgaria's army stepped in on Aug. 25 to buttress the southwestern border with Macedonia, which has been hit in recent days by an unprecedented influx of migrants.
Twenty-five soldiers and light armored vehicles will be deployed at Bulgaria's four border checkpoints with Macedonia, a defense ministry operations and training deputy chief told public BNR radio.
Bulgaria's Interior Minister Assures Border Controls Are Efficient
Bulgaria's Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Rumyana Bachvarova has insisted that the country's border authorities exercise rigorous oversight.
In a Tuesday interview for the morning broadcast of Nova TV she noted that the refugee crisis was the biggest challenge for Europe since the beginning of the century.
Merkel, Hollande urge unified EU response to refugee crisis
A new wave of migrants began entering the European Union from Serbia on Aug. 24 as the leaders of France and Germany called for a unified response to the continent's biggest migrant crisis since World War II.
Bosnia Mulls Action in Case of Refugee Crisis
As the refugee crisis mounts in Macedonia and Serbia, with thousands of people from Middle Eastern and African countries using them as a corridor to the EU, Bosnian officials are mulling their own capacities and options in case the crisis spills over.
Bulgaria Pledges Support for Macedonia's Integration into EU, NATO
Bulgaria is ready to help neighbouring Macedonia meet the requirements for joining the European Union and NATO, Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov said on Monday.
He also said that increased migrant influx to Macedonia highlights the need to strengthen considerably the European integration of the countries of the western Balkans.
Bulgaria Sending Troops to Border as Migrant Arrivals to Serbia Rise
Defence Minister Nikolay Nenchev said on Monday the Army is sending 25 troops and the relevant equipment to help police guard the border with Serbia in view of increased migrant influx into Bulgaria's western neighbour.
Migrants in Southern Serbia 'Receiving Adequate Help'
Equality Commissioner Brankica Jankovic visited Serbia's reception centre for migrants in the southern town of Presevo on Monday and said that refugees there had assured her that they were being not discriminated against in any way.
Austria Urges EU Help in Balkan Migrant Crisis
Kurz said on Monday during a visit to Macedonia that the Western Balkans needs urgent help from the European Union in coping with the humanitarian crisis caused by the swelling number of refugees entering Macedonia and Serbia on the way to the EU.
Macedonia PM’s ‘Bonus MPs’ Plan Rejected
As talks on electoral reforms between Macedonia’s warring political parties continue without breakthrough, a proposal to grant a poll-winning party extra MPs to ensure stable governance was rejected.
Bulgarian Authorities Detect No Migrant Pressure at Border with Macedonia
The Bulgarian Interior Ministry informed on Sunday that there was neither pressure at the country's border with Macedonia nor complication of the situation.
The General Directorate Border Police was exchanging real-time information with its colleagues at the border checkpoints in Macedonia, the interior ministry's press service informs.
More than 7,000 refugees arrive in Serbia in one night
More than 7,000 refugees arrived in Serbia in the night between Saturday and Sunday after passing through Macedonia, according to UN's refugee agency UNHCR.
The International Federation of Red Cross expects "a dramatic increase" in their number in coming days.
Serbia Sets up Refugee Camp Near Macedonian Border
The new camp was established in the village of Miratovac, near the southern Serbian town of Presevo, where a collective reception centre for migrants was opened in the reconstructed building of a tobacco processing company on July 8.
Migrants Resume Passage Through Macedonia
Macedonia on Sunday assisted thousands of migrants to resume their journeys through the country and into Serbia after the authorities tried to seal their southern border last Thursday and declared a crisis situation, which resulted in chaotic scenes and clashes with police.
Bulgaria Detains 310 Illegal Migrants at Borders Aug 13-20
Bulgarian authorities have detained 310 people trying to illegally enter the country between August 13 and August 20, a 50% increase over the previous seven-day period, dnevnik.bg reported on Sunday.
Some 4,000 Migrants Cross into Serbia from Macedonia Overnight
About 2,000 migrants have entered Serbia on Sunday morning after crossing from Macedonia, Tanjug reported.