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Slovenia to build fence if EU fails to help over migrants Migrant crisis: Austria plans Slovenia border fence
(about 3 hours later)
Slovenia has threatened to erect a fence along its border with Croatia if an EU plan agreed on Sunday is not implemented. Austria has said it is planning to construct a fence at the main border crossing used by migrants entering the country from Slovenia.
Some 85,000 refugees have poured into the tiny nation in the last 10 days, after Hungary closed its Croatia border. Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann said the move would not shut the border, but would allow better control of arrivals.
To Hungary's north, Austria is also set to beef up barriers at its border crossings to control large crowds. It came as Germany said it expected the number of deportations of failed asylum seekers to rise.
The approach of winter has so far done little to slow the flow. Meanwhile, three migrant boats have capsized between Turkey and the Greek islands.
The UN estimates more than 700,000 migrants have crossed to Europe by boat so far this year - mainly from war-ravaged Syria. BBC Europe correspondent Damian Grammaticas says Austria and Germany, the two countries at the heart of Europe's refugee crisis, seem to be toughening their tone.
Some transit countries have been seeking to limit the influx, leading to bottlenecks and tensions with neighbours. They appear to be trying to deter refugees from setting out on their journeys and to head off political critics at home, he adds.
Most migrants have been making their way to northern Europe - primarily to Germany, expected to receive up to a million asylum seekers this year. The UN estimates more than 700,000 migrants have crossed to Europe by boat so far this year - mainly from war-ravaged Syria. The approach of winter has so far done little to slow the flow.
Strained relations The latest moves came after Slovenia said it could erect a fence along its border with Croatia if an EU plan agreed on Sunday was not implemented. It follows suggestions from Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria that they might begin building their own barriers.
Tensions have been growing there too, with Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere complaining on Wednesday that Germany had given Afghanistan development aid and troops, and that Afghans would be better off staying and trying to rebuild the country. Some 85,000 refugees have poured into Slovenia in the last 10 days, after Hungary closed its border with Croatia.
"People who come to us as refugees from Afghanistan cannot all expect to be able to stay in Germany," he said. On Sunday, 11 EU states and three non-EU countries agreed to set up reception centres with another 50,000 spaces in Balkan countries, and send 400 guards to assist Slovenia within a week. But EU members have previously been slow to deliver on pledges of such assistance.
Normally friendly relations between Germany and Austria have been strained in recent days, with Germany accusing Austria of dumping migrants on its border. "If the situation worsens and the Brussels action plan is not fulfilled, then Slovenia has several scenarios prepared, including the installation of a fence guarded by forces," said Slovenian Foreign Minister Karl Erjavec.
On Sunday, 11 EU states and three non-EU countries agreed to set up reception centres with another 50,000 spaces in Balkan countries, and send 400 guards to assist Slovenia within a week.
But EU members have previously been slow to deliver on pledges of such assistance. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker complained on Wednesday that fewer than half of the 775 border guards pledged to the Frontex border agency over the past month had been provided.
He also said that promises of financial support had not been kept.
In search of a better life - at 105
At 105 years old, Bibihal Uzbeki must be one of the oldest migrants to looking for a brighter future in Europe.
She arrived in Croatia after making the arduous journey with family across mountains and oceans from Kunduz, Afghanistan, on Tuesday, reported Associated Press news agency.
"My legs hurt, but I'm fine," Ms Uzbeki said in Farsi, speaking through a translator - her hands shaking.
She said her 17-member family had travelled for 20 days to reach Europe, with her 67-year-old son and her 19-year-old grandson often carrying her on their backs.
"We had problems many times. I suffered a lot," she said. "I fell and injured my head. I have scars on my head."
Ms Uzbeki's documents suggest she is 105, and her grandson concurs.
Slovenia has cautioned that, should help not be forthcoming, it too could build a fence along its border with Croatia. It follows threats a few days ago from Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria to begin building their own barriers.
"If the situation worsens and the Brussels action plan is not fulfilled, then Slovenia has several scenarios prepared, [including] the installation of a fence guarded by forces," said Slovenian Foreign Minister Karl Erjavec.
Hungary has already fenced off its border with Serbia and Croatia, so such a move would, in theory, mean sealing off that route entirely.Hungary has already fenced off its border with Serbia and Croatia, so such a move would, in theory, mean sealing off that route entirely.
Slovenia has also raised the possibility of invoking a "solidarity clause" in EU treaties which applies to countries experiencing disasters, reported the Financial Times, citing two unnamed officials familiar with the talks. Following a cabinet meeting, Austria's chancellor said a series of barriers would be erected at the Spielfeld border crossing with Slovenia, where several thousand migrants have been arriving every day.
The clause, which has not been used before, allows a country to request EU aid and military support. The threat to invoke it caused alarm among EU officials, the FT reported, prompting the pledge of border guards. The barriers would improve security, he said, but would be nothing like the hundreds of miles of razor wire fencing Hungary has put up along the length of its frontier.
Further north, Austrian Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner says there are plans to beef up barriers and build a fence at border crossing points from Slovenia. "We want to be able to carry out controls on people, and for that one needs certain technical security measures," he told reporters.
She stressed it was "not about closing the border", but about dealing with pressure from large disorderly crowds pushing to cross the border. Germany's Interior Minister Thomas de Maziere has accused Austria of transporting refugees to the German frontier at night, leaving them there unannounced.
"This is about ensuring an orderly, controlled entry into our country... not about shutting down the border." He warned that Germany would start to deport more people who didn't qualify for asylum, and described as "unacceptable" the fact that Afghans now made up the second largest source of arrivals in Germany.
Large amounts of aid had been spent in Afghanistan, Mr de Maziere said, and Afghans should stay in their country.
Bottlenecks and tensions
The United Nations refugee agency said two migrant boats had overturned near the Greek island of Samos on Wednesday afternoon, while another capsized close to the coast of Lesbos.
Some of the migrants on board were rescued, but about 10 people - including 4 children - are said to be missing.
The weather in the area has worsened in the past few days, with gale force winds and rain affecting the Aegean Sea.
Some transit countries have been seeking to limit the influx, leading to bottlenecks and tensions with neighbours.
Most migrants have been making their way to northern Europe - primarily to Germany, which is expected to receive up to a million asylum seekers this year.
A note on terminology: The BBC uses the term migrant to refer to all people on the move who have yet to complete the legal process of claiming asylum. This group includes people fleeing war-torn countries such as Syria, who are likely to be granted refugee status, as well as people who are seeking jobs and better lives, who governments are likely to rule are economic migrants.A note on terminology: The BBC uses the term migrant to refer to all people on the move who have yet to complete the legal process of claiming asylum. This group includes people fleeing war-torn countries such as Syria, who are likely to be granted refugee status, as well as people who are seeking jobs and better lives, who governments are likely to rule are economic migrants.