"Croatia is sending migrants across the green border unannounced and in a disorganised manner, without compassion for fellow human beings. They deliberately send them towards the river, while trying to shift all the burden of responsibility onto Slovenia," said Boštjan Šefic, State Secretary at the Ministry of the Interior, at today's press conference upon the publication of recordings taken from the Slovenian police helicopter. “Yesterday alone, more than 12 thousand refugees and migrants entered Slovenia in this manner, more than have entered Hungary in any single day,” he underlined.
Šefic also reminded the press that Croatia is a member state of the European Union and has made a commitment to collaborate with us and share our burden, which makes their conduct completely irresponsible and unacceptable.
On the other hand, Slovenia has continued to work very successfully with Austria, maintaining close contact and constant communication. Although the Austrians have their own share of problems due to the large influx of refugees and migrants, they have continued to accept new arrivals. As a result of yesterday’s agreement between the heads of the Slovenian and the Austrian police, Austria accepted a train with 500 refugees and migrants in Jesenice today. This third point of exit from Slovenia will help to gradually relieve the burden on the Šentilj border crossing. According to the Civil Protection Commander, Srečko Šestan, there are between 1000 and 1500 refugees and migrants present in the area at all times.
Slovenia to accept assistance offered
Earlier today in Ljubljana, Prime Minister Miro Cerar received the European Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, Dimitris Avramopoulos, and apprised him of the current situation in Slovenia resulting from the increased inflow of refugees and migrants. He presented the measures adopted by the Slovenian government to him in greater detail and explained the difficult position we are in with regard to the Schengen border, which is not an external border for Slovenia.
PM Cerar also took this opportunity to officially present the Commissioner with Slovenia's request for EU assistance. As explained by Minister Györkös Žnidar after yesterday’s meeting with Commissioner Avramopoulos, Slovenia will also accept the assistance offered by Austria, Germany, Italy and the countries of the Visegrad Group, which includes the provision of additional personnel.
The two dignitaries expressed their hope that the heads of states along the so-called Balkan migration route will be able to find appropriate common European solutions which will contribute to the comprehensive and effective resolution of the European migration crisis.
Slovenia received 12,000 refugees and migrants yesterday
A total of 38,587 refugees and migrants had entered Slovenia by 1 p.m. today, nearly half of them women and minors, mostly from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan. Almost 10,000 people were accepted by Austria till 6 pm today.
The situation is currently the most difficult in the Brežice area, at the Dobova border crossing. According to Šestan, a location was chosen there today for a large tent camp. The new camp, which is to be set up over the next two days, will allow better care to be provided to migrants, while easing the work of the police, humanitarian organisations and volunteers. In addition, Šestan pointed out that humanitarian and non-governmental organisations are also providing food and water to people who are being transferred to inland accommodation centres and Austria before entering trains.