Thousands surge into Slovenia as refugees seek new route into Europe

Thousands of migrants surged into tiny Slovenia on Saturday as an alternative route opened in Europe for them after Hungary sealed its border for their free flow, adding another hurdle in their frantic flight from wars and poverty toward what they hope is a better life in Western Europe. The Hungarian border closure is the latest demonstration of the EU’s uncoordinated response to the flow of people reaching its borders.

We are going to focus even more on safety and security and order so our country can function normally.

Slovenian Prime Minister Miro Cerar

The small European Union-member state has limited capacity to process large numbers wishing to head toward richer European Union countries such as Germany, Austria or Sweden. This could leave thousands stranded in Croatia and further east and south in Serbia and Macedonia — the countries on the so-called Balkan migrant corridor. Elsewhere a German mayoral candidate active in helping refugees was seriously wounded on Saturday in what police described as a stabbing with a “racist political” motive, heaping further pressure on Chancellor Angela Merkel over the crisis. Earlier four children drowned after the small boat they were in sank off the Greek island of Kalolimnos in the latest tragedy at sea to hit refugees seeking a new life in Europe.

I am working with all my power for sustainable solutions, and they don’t depend on us Germans alone and will take time.

Angela Merkel

Europe Slovenia