In EU member state Slovenia, paramilitaries say they are facing down a migrant 'threat' on the border with Croatia. Their patrols includes trying to catch migrants climbing over the border fence and signalling their presence to the police. The founder and group commander this year served time in jail for forming the vigilante group and urging the overthrow of state institutions.
The Bosnian government claims none of the local communities in the country agreed to the construction of new migrant centers in their territories.
A group of NGOs in Italy and the Balkans have denounced that migrants along the Balkan migrant route continue to be illegally expelled from one state to the next. The Commissioner for Human Rights at the Council of Europe meanwhile has warned of a "humanitarian emergency" due to squalid conditions at the Vucjak migrant camp in Bosnia.
Around 1500 migrants were rounded up in northwestern Bosnia and moved to a camp in the country on Wednesday. The town of Bihac cannot provide adequate shelter for these people in the winter weather, authorities said.
Slovenia has reported 11,291 irregular border crossings since the start of this year, according to the interior minister.
A Serbian NGO has accused Croatian border police of inflicting "physical and psychological torture" on an Afghan minor last month. Croatia's interior ministry dismissed the allegations as "unfounded and incomprehensible." In the past, international organizations and NGOs have repeatedly criticized Croatia of using excessive force as migrants try to enter the EU member state from Serbia.
The number of migrants in Serbian reception centers has fallen significantly. Meanwhile, authorities throughout the Balkans are continuing operations to arrest traffickers.
Serbian authorities have reported that an estimated 3,500 migrants are currently living in the country. Nearly 3,000 people live in hosting facilities, while the others are living outdoors, including in parks, according to Vladimir Cucic, the local commissioner for refugees and migration.
Europol set up a new task force in charge of combating human trafficking networks. Its head Robert Crepinko said that in addition to addressing new ways of smuggling, the task force would also deal with the use of fraudulent documents, money laundering and the role of social media in illegal migration. He also stressed that there is a rise in violence among smuggling gangs as a means to maximize profits.
Bosnian authorities have announced that a new migrant reception center will be built near Bihac. This center will replace two temporary reception centers.
In the lead up to the European Parliament Elections, the German politician Manfred Weber has promised Bulgarians tight measures against illegal migration. Bulgaria was a critical part of the Balkan route at the height of the migrant crisis.
Slovenian authorities are warning that they expect mass arrivals in the country over the next few months. Slovenia has already sent over 1,500 migrants back to Croatia since the start of 2019.