The Western Balkans and the migrant crisis 2015/2016

During 2015 - when the flow of refugees and migrants increased dramatically on the so-called Eastern Mediterranean route - a relatively small country with the size of about 25.000km2 and about 2,1 million inhabitants became the decisive factor whether refugees and migrants could continue their journey on the so-called Western Balkans route towards Western and Northern Europe. Due to its geographic position as the main entry point into the Western Balkans route the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia’s stance and actions were therefore determining the faith of the vast majority of refugees and migrants who had arrived on Greek islands with the intention to reach European Union countries further north. This book will investigate the internal and external factors which have contributed to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia becoming more a key cooperation partner with some EU Member States in the closure of the Western Balkans route rather than with its fateful neighbour, Greece.