(AP) Germany on Thursday hosted a meeting with representatives of the European Union and several European countries — including from the western Balkans — in an effort to curb migration via the so-called Balkan route.
“We want to protect the people who flee to us from war and political persecution,” German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said. “At the same time, we also take decisive action against irregular migration … our declared goal is to reduce the rising irregular migration via the western Balkans route.”
In recent months, an increasing number of migrants have been trying to reach wealthier western European countries via the Balkans, often paying smugglers thousands of euros (dollars) to take them across borders without valid travel documents.
