The "Balkan Wall" of the Western Balkan Route Leading to the Promised Land of the European Union

Throughout 2015 and until the first quarter of 2016, a rapid increase of the overall number of migrants and especially of refugees, fleeing from the war in Syria and Iraq, transiting through the "Western Balkan route" -ie. Turkey, Greece, fYROM, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Hungary- who chose European Union countries as their destination, was recorded. In the autumn of 2015, the EU leadership tried to facilitate cooperation among the countries directly affected by the refugee flows.

Despite all moralistic talk about human rights, real coordination among the affected states manifested itself in border closure and fence building. Accordingly, Hungary, fYROM, Croatia and Slovenia erected fences in the closer region and Serbia too strengthened control of its borders. At the end of March, Austria followed, closing its borders to most asylum seekers. On March 9, 2016, fYROM closed its border with Greece completely, in response to Austria, Slovenia, Serbia, and Croatia announcing further restrictions on who would be allowed to cross their borders.

On the basis of this paper, fYROM's decision making as regards its relations with Greece will be presented. This case study will analyze the main actors that became engaged in the process of dealing with the humanitarian crisis generated by the flow of refugees, that affected the Western Balkans with unexpected intensity during 2015, further providing a rigorous assessment of the key reasons explaining the decision of the Government of fYROM to unilaterally close the border with Greece, as well as, the role of EU regarding this decision.