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Europe’s Confused Response Leaves Migrants Scrambling for New Gateways Europe’s Confused Response Leaves Migrants Scrambling for New Gateways
(about 1 hour later)
LONDON — Europe’s muddled response to the migration crisis continued to sow confusion and frustration on Friday, as throngs of asylum seekers poured into Croatia from Serbia even though most border crossings were officially closed, Hungary erected new barriers, and thousands of others sought new gateways into Western Europe.LONDON — Europe’s muddled response to the migration crisis continued to sow confusion and frustration on Friday, as throngs of asylum seekers poured into Croatia from Serbia even though most border crossings were officially closed, Hungary erected new barriers, and thousands of others sought new gateways into Western Europe.
Croatia, a relatively poor Balkan country that joined the European Union in 2013, had initially signaled that it would allow migrants, barred from entering neighboring Hungary, to pass. But when more than 11,000 people streamed into Croatia on Wednesday and Thursday, the government said it was moving to shut the border with Serbia. Croatia, a Balkan country that joined the European Union in 2013, had initially signaled that it would allow migrants who were barred from entering neighboring Hungary to pass. But after more than 11,000 people streamed into Croatia on Wednesday and Thursday, the government said it was moving to shut the border with Serbia.
Though most of the crossings were blocked, migrants continued to stream into Croatia through cornfields around the crossing between the border towns of Tovarnik, Croatia, and Sid, Serbia. Though most of the crossings were blocked, migrants continued to stream into Croatia through cornfields near the crossing between the border towns of Tovarnik, Croatia, and Sid, Serbia.
Many of them — some 30 busloads — had traveled about 300 miles through Serbia, from the southern town of Preshevo, on the border with Macedonia, to Sid, in the north. Many spent the night in the open or in tents, with scant food and water in supply, the Serbian state broadcaster RTS reported. Many of them — about 30 busloads — had traveled roughly 300 miles through Serbia, from the southern town of Preshevo, on the border with Macedonia, to Sid, in the north. Many spent the night in the open or in tents, with scant food and water in supply, the Serbian state broadcaster RTS reported.
On the Croatian side of the border, police officers in vans were seeking to take the new arrivals to reception centers; from there, it was unclear whether they would be registered or expelled. Up to 8,000 migrants were taken to a former barracks in the town of Beli Manastir, which had capacity to hold just 1,200 people. On the Croatian side of the border, police officers in vans were seeking to take the new arrivals to reception centers; from there, it was unclear whether they would be registered or expelled. Up to 8,000 migrants were taken to former barracks in the town of Beli Manastir, which could hold just 1,200 people.
Croatia’s mixed messages underlined how the countries of the former Yugoslavia — smaller and economically weaker than their richer and more populous western counterparts — are ill equipped to deal with the surge of people escaping war and poverty who have suddenly turned up on their doorsteps. Croatia’s mixed messages highlighted how the countries of the former Yugoslavia — smaller and economically weaker than their richer and more populous Western counterparts — are ill equipped to deal with the surge of people who have suddenly turned up on their doorsteps.
The crisis has also dealt a heavy blow to European unity as the Schengen Zone of borderless travel, long a cornerstone of European integration, along with the euro and a single market, has crumbled. The crisis has also dealt a heavy blow to European unity, as the Schengen area of borderless travel, long a cornerstone of European integration, has crumbled.
The Croatian interior minister, Ranko Ostojic, said on Thursday that his country had reached its maximum capacity for accepting migrants. He told migrants that they were no longer welcome. “Don’t come here any more,” he said. “This is not the road to Europe. Buses can’t take you there. It’s a lie.”The Croatian interior minister, Ranko Ostojic, said on Thursday that his country had reached its maximum capacity for accepting migrants. He told migrants that they were no longer welcome. “Don’t come here any more,” he said. “This is not the road to Europe. Buses can’t take you there. It’s a lie.”
In Hungary, where riot police officers this week fired water cannons and tear gas to fend off migrants trying to breach a border gate, workers on Friday began laying razor wire along the country’s southern border with Croatia, extending by about 25 miles the 109 miles of razor wire it had already set up along its border with Serbia. The Hungarian government also has plans to reinforce the eastern border with Romania.In Hungary, where riot police officers this week fired water cannons and tear gas to fend off migrants trying to breach a border gate, workers on Friday began laying razor wire along the country’s southern border with Croatia, extending by about 25 miles the 109 miles of razor wire it had already set up along its border with Serbia. The Hungarian government also has plans to reinforce the eastern border with Romania.
On Thursday night, Hungary declared a state of crisis in two southern counties near the Croatian border. Prime Minister Viktor Orban said the authorities had deployed 600 soldiers and 200 police there. A further 1,200 troops and half as many police officers would be sent to the area by the end of this week, he said. On Thursday night, Hungary declared a state of crisis in two southern counties near the Croatian border. Prime Minister Viktor Orban said the authorities had deployed 600 soldiers and 200 police officers there. A further 1,200 troops and half as many police officers would be sent to the area by the end of this week, he said.
“There is no dune, no molehill for anyone to hide behind in the hope of entering Hungarian territory illegally,” Mr. Orban said. “We will protect Hungary’s border.”“There is no dune, no molehill for anyone to hide behind in the hope of entering Hungarian territory illegally,” Mr. Orban said. “We will protect Hungary’s border.”
The police said that 453 migrants had been detained on one section of the border with Croatia before midnight on Thursday.The police said that 453 migrants had been detained on one section of the border with Croatia before midnight on Thursday.
Hungary has come under criticism from the United Nations and from the European Union for erecting barriers to keep out refugees and asylum seekers, most of whom are en route to countries like Germany and Sweden. But Hungary has retorted that these people have no right to apply for asylum in Hungary since they are coming from so-called safe countries, like Serbia, and not directly from their original homes in Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq or elsewhere. Hungary has come under criticism from the United Nations and from the European Union for erecting barriers to keep out refugees and asylum seekers, most of whom are en route to countries like Germany and Sweden. But Hungary has retorted that these people have no right to apply for asylum in Hungary, as they are coming from so-called safe countries, like Serbia, and not directly from their homes in Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq or elsewhere.
Further south, more than 4,000 people crossed into Macedonia from Greece on Thursday, the authorities said. In Edirne, Turkey, migrants seeking to enter Greece were awaiting word from the Turkish capital, Ankara, as to whether they would be allowed to walk over the border.Further south, more than 4,000 people crossed into Macedonia from Greece on Thursday, the authorities said. In Edirne, Turkey, migrants seeking to enter Greece were awaiting word from the Turkish capital, Ankara, as to whether they would be allowed to walk over the border.