Serbia records just over 3,000 migrants at reception centers
The Serbian Refugee and Migration Commissariat has reported current figures and those of last year, noting the time the migrants stayed and where they were from.
balkan route
Czech border checks to end after limited success
The Czech Republic has announced that it will end conducting border controls with neighboring Slovakia, which had been introduced in a bid to control irregular migration patterns. But elsewhere in the bloc, border controls remain on high alert.
Balkans are key for migration flows, Italian FM Tajani says
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has told a hearing of the joint committees of foreign affairs of the Lower House and foreign affairs and defence of the Senate that the Western Balkans are key for the migration.
Czech Republic saw number of irregular migrant arrivals double in 2022
Prague reported a significant rise in irregular migrants in 2022, with the vast majority coming from Syria. Most migrants, however, continued their journey to Western European countries to seek asylum.
Irregular EU border crossings hit 'highest' level since 2016
Almost half of the 2022 irregular border crossings were made overland through the Western Balkans region, EU border agency Frontex said. The preliminary figures do not include Ukrainian refugees.
North Macedonia: Hani, a superhero for migrants
Hani helps hundreds of migrants from the Middle East who cross the border from Greece into North Macedonia on their way to Serbia. The Iranian, a former migrant himself, is volunteering with the Red Cross of North Macedonia. He assists migrants every day with food, water and medical supplies, because he knows what it's like to have no one by your side on such a dangerous journey.
Despite border fences, irregular migrant arrivals to EU rise again
The number of migrants entering the EU irregularly has continued to rise, according to the border agency Frontex. The largest number -- around 140,000 -- traveled through the Western Balkans.
IRC warns of winter hardships for migrants as temperatures drop
The International Rescue Commmittee (IRC) has called for more humanitarian assistance and safe accommodation for all those fleeing war and persecution as winter approaches.
Serbia: Man shot in border town clash between migrants and smugglers
A police operation following a shooting incident uncovered around 600 migrants near the border with Hungary, including weapons. Some 1,000 people had to be taken to safety.
Barbed wire borders increase in Europe
New barbed wire fences are being erected across Europe’s eastern borders. Many of these barriers are between the EU and Russia or Russian-friendly states like Belarus, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. But they also stop migrants and asylum seekers from entering the bloc.
Passing through Serbia in the hope of making it into the EU
More than 100,000 people have entered the European Union via the western Balkans without documentation this year. The Obrenovac camp near Serbia's capital, Belgrade, has become a transit point for migrants from around the world, some of whom have spent years on the road.
'Police come for us at night': Belgrade, a crucial but hostile layover city for migrants on the Balkan route
Serbia's capital Belgrade serves as a layover for many migrants on the Balkan route. However, the hundreds of Syrian, Afghan or Moroccan migrants passing through every day only have two accommodation options: an overcrowded and remote camp, or the streets and parks of the city.