Schengen Area

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu has called on the country's opposition parties to help adopt the legal arrangements required for visa liberalization for Turkish citizens in the European Union.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned March 10 that closing the route used by migrants through the western Balkans "does not resolve the problem" and that Greek cannot shoulder the weight of the refugee burden if the European Union and Turkey cannot strike of deal. 

"That's why I am seeking a real European solution, that is, a solution for all 28 [EU members]," she said.

In a pre-emptive move to counter possible pressure from European Union leaders during meetings in Brussels on March 7, Turkey has raised its offers and demands regarding the plan to secure control over the migration from Syria (and elsewhere) into the EU, thus reactivating Ankara's relations with the EU.

Serbia announced on Tuesday that the so-called Balkans route used by migrants to reach western Europe will be de-facto closed following Slovenia's decision to deny entry into the EU's free-travel Schengen zone to migrants without valid visas and passports, Tanjug reported.

(Update 3-23:30)

In last minute developments Hungary has vetoed the draft plan, according to a tweet posted by the country’s PM Viktor Orban.

Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov writes that his country is "feeling the full force of the migrant crisis," and "defending the EU from itself."

The leaders of the EU and Turkey will meet at an international summit in Brussels on Monday to discuss their cooperation in tackling the migrant crisis.

At the European Council of 18-19 February, the heads of state or government of the EU member states decided to hold a special meeting with Turkey in March.

The refugee crisis shows the weaknesses of the European Union, said Prime Minister and leader of SYRIZA Alexis Tsipras addressing SYRIZA Central Committee on Sunday.

“Greece is not alone, since Europe is on its side” said on Saturday EU Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos at an event on refugee organized by Konstantinos Karamanlis Institute for Democracy and the Adenauer Foundation.

Greece faces a new danger in accordance with the ‘ Back to Schengen’ roadmap presented by European Commission which includes concrete steps needed to return order to the management of the EU’s external and internal borders.