The Balkan Route
On 10 March the refugee route through the Balkan supposedly ceased to exist. While in many parts of the Balkan, memories of the war and seeking refuge lie on the surface, today it is at the centre of new suffering. Both literally and figuratively. The ‘the Balkan Route’ has become a significant part of the escape to Western Europe. In the literal sense, it is the middle of an arduous journey. Figuratively, it lies between (and is dependent of) political powers which decide on the faith of these refugees and thus of the Balkan. Namely, the EU and Turkey. The outcome of their negotiations also settles the amount of options for Balkan countries to react to the current crisis. Solidarity and opportunism therefore could get at odds with each other. Because at every new obstacle on this route, refugees get stranded, challenging the will for balanced accommodation and thus the room for solidarity. If your downstream neighbour closes its border, you will be the next end-of-the-line on the refugee route.
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