The migrant crisis is a challenge for whole Europe, especially for the smaller countries on the continent, whose economies are in bad and disastrous condition. There is a genuine risk that such pressure can lead to violent clashes with the migrants, and also, it would represent a sort of a test of the relations between the local Muslim and Christian population in the region (Ariel Cohen, 2016).
Although, seemingly, the migration started spontaneously, it can be concluded that it seems like planned and organized transport via the Western Balkan route, including the Republic of Macedonia. The following facts confirm it:
Telephone guidance (leading) during border crossing;
Multiple appearance of the same persons in charge of the migrants in the trains transporting the migrants on the route Gevgelija–Tabanovce and vice versa;
Marking of crossing paths (plastic bottles and textile);
The existence of locations in Greece where the migrants pay for false IDs and locations for sale of fake travel documents;
Offering bribery to the members of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia and the Ministry of Interior for faster and easier transit through Macedonia; and
There are unconfirmed information that the transport is funded and the funds are obtained at several locations in Turkey and Serbia (Muhamet Racaj, 2015).
The action taken by national authorities showed that problem cannot be transferred to the neighbors and building a holistic approach focused on strong interagency and international approach is more than necessary. Referring to the institutional response, most crisis communication plans adopted by politicians are based on the power play and less based on the principles of humanism, values, morals and ethics. The data that has been presented are quite variable, considering the frequency of migrants and image/perception about borders’ happenings.
Conclusion
Migration crisis has launched numerous discussions on the political, professional and social levels. Nevertheless, there are still no concerted opinions about the causes and consequences of the migration crisis in Europe.
In the context of throughout the crisis as far as it takes, concerned countries (alluding to the countries of the region that suffer from its consequences) will be more confused as how to cope and to find a solution. The way in which certain countries, the EU and its institutions are dealing with the crisis looks more like an instinctive reaction rather than a well thought strategy. Migration crisis has its causes in the economic relations at the global level which encourage people to move towards the developed countries. Besides, the causes lie in the increasing number of conflicts in different parts of the world, particularly in the Near East. Migration crisis in Europe is primarily a humanitarian issue and this has been shown in the activities of the majority of the European countries. Migration crisis has resulted also in certain security risks, particularly those related to the threat of terrorism. Therefore, some European countries have tried or managed to securitize this issue. Migration crisis has already caused certain consequences and in the future it will certainly have even greater impact on the European societies, especially their stability and security (Conclusions of the Panel discussion “Migration Crisis” University of Applied Sciences Velika Gorica, 2015).
REFERENCES:
1. Ariel Cohen, Dinu Patriciu Euroasia Center – Atlantic Council, 27 January 2016.
2. Camila Ruz, The battle over the words used to describe migrants, BBC News Magazine, 16 October 2015.
3. Crisis management, United Kingdom, Department of Business Enterprise and Regulators Reform, October 2007.
4. Gideon Rachman, Refugees or migrants – what’s in a word?, blogs.ft.com, 9. 16 October 2015.
5. Ikonomi, Luljeta. “Human Rights of Irregular Immigrants: A Challenge for the Universality of Human Rights.” Academicus International Scientific Journal 8 (2013): 89-100.
6. Leka, Agim. “Albanian migration during the post communist transition and the European integration in global era-An intercultural reflection.” Academicus International Scientific Journal 8 (2013): 201-220.
7. Europe migrant crisis, BBC News, 16 October 2015. 8. Europe’s Migration Crisis, ft.com, 16 October 2015.
9. Transcript and analysis of the discussion from the regional roundtable "Refugee Crisis: Security Challenges for Macedonia and the region"
dealing with the serious forms of epidemics and diseases (Z.Keshetovic, Regional roundtable "Refugee Crisis: Security Challenges for Macedonia and the region”, 2015).
LESSONS LEARNT AND EXPECTED DEVELOPMENTS
The migrant crisis is a challenge for whole Europe, especially for the smaller countries on the continent, whose economies are in bad and disastrous condition. There is a genuine risk that such pressure can lead to violent clashes with the migrants, and also, it would represent a sort of a test of the relations between the local Muslim and Christian population in the region (Ariel Cohen, 2016).
Although, seemingly, the migration started spontaneously, it can be concluded that it seems like planned and organized transport via the Western Balkan route, including the Republic of Macedonia. The following facts confirm it:
Telephone guidance (leading) during border crossing;
Multiple appearance of the same persons in charge of the migrants in the trains transporting the migrants on the route Gevgelija–Tabanovce and vice versa;
Marking of crossing paths (plastic bottles and textile);
The existence of locations in Greece where the migrants pay for false IDs and locations for sale of fake travel documents;
Offering bribery to the members of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia and the Ministry of Interior for faster and easier transit through Macedonia; and
There are unconfirmed information that the transport is funded and the funds are obtained at several locations in Turkey and Serbia (Muhamet Racaj, 2015).
The action taken by national authorities showed that problem cannot be transferred to the neighbors and building a holistic approach focused on strong interagency and international approach is more than necessary. Referring to the institutional response, most crisis communication plans adopted by politicians are based on the power play and less based on the principles of humanism, values, morals and ethics. The data that has been presented are quite variable, considering the frequency of migrants and image/perception about borders’ happenings.
Conclusion
Migration crisis has launched numerous discussions on the political, professional and social levels. Nevertheless, there are still no concerted opinions about the causes and consequences of the migration crisis in Europe.
In the context of throughout the crisis as far as it takes, concerned countries (alluding to the countries of the region that suffer from its consequences) will be more confused as how to cope and to find a solution. The way in which certain countries, the EU and its institutions are dealing with the crisis looks more like an instinctive reaction rather than a well thought strategy. Migration crisis has its causes in the economic relations at the global level which encourage people to move towards the developed countries. Besides, the causes lie in the increasing number of conflicts in different parts of the world, particularly in the Near East. Migration crisis in Europe is primarily a humanitarian issue and this has been shown in the activities of the majority of the European countries. Migration crisis has resulted also in certain security risks, particularly those related to the threat of terrorism. Therefore, some European countries have tried or managed to securitize this issue. Migration crisis has already caused certain consequences and in the future it will certainly have even greater impact on the European societies, especially their stability and security (Conclusions of the Panel discussion “Migration Crisis” University of Applied Sciences Velika Gorica, 2015).
REFERENCES:
1. Ariel Cohen, Dinu Patriciu Euroasia Center – Atlantic Council, 27 January 2016.
2. Camila Ruz, The battle over the words used to describe migrants, BBC News Magazine, 16 October 2015.
3. Crisis management, United Kingdom, Department of Business Enterprise and Regulators Reform, October 2007.
4. Gideon Rachman, Refugees or migrants – what’s in a word?, blogs.ft.com, 9. 16 October 2015.
5. Ikonomi, Luljeta. “Human Rights of Irregular Immigrants: A Challenge for the Universality of Human Rights.” Academicus International Scientific Journal 8 (2013): 89-100.
6. Leka, Agim. “Albanian migration during the post communist transition and the European integration in global era-An intercultural reflection.” Academicus International Scientific Journal 8 (2013): 201-220.
7. Europe migrant crisis, BBC News, 16 October 2015. 8. Europe’s Migration Crisis, ft.com, 16 October 2015.
9. Transcript and analysis of the discussion from the regional roundtable "Refugee Crisis: Security Challenges for Macedonia and the region"
90
Foundation Konrad Adenauer and Faculty of Security- Skopje , 28.10.2015
10. http://www.academicus.edu.al/nr14/Academicus-MMXVI-14-158-167.pdf
11. http://www.dku.hr/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/ZAKLJU%C4%8CCI- PANEL DISKUSIJE-MIGRACIJSKA-KRIZA2.pdf
REFUGEE CRISIS: SECURITY CHALLENGES FOR MACEDONIA AND THE REGION
325.254.4-022.326.5:355.1(437.7) Original scientific article