All three countries are part of the recently closed Balkan route, through which over a million migrants from the Middle East entered into the European Union last year. The presidents agreed that it was impossible to solve refugee crisis without consent of all EU countries.

Europe must show solidarity regarding the issue of migrant crisis, was the message of the Slovenian, Croatian and Austrian presidents, who met in Varaždin for an annual meeting.

“The fact is, deciding on closing the Balkan route wasn’t easy for Austria after accepting so many migrants and also granting asylum to many of them,” said Austrian President Heinz Fischer. His Slovenian colleague Borut Pahor pointed out the relocation of migrants as the only solution of refugee crisis for those who are already in Europe, and urged Slovenian politicians to “estimate the approximate maximum number of asylum seekers and migrants that Slovenia can accept and give them humane treatment. This isn’t my first warning, but the time is running out, so I’m repeating it again in hope of being heard.”

Croatian President Kolinda Grabar Kitarović emphasized that it was only through mutual cooperation that migrant crisis could be tackled, adding that President Pahor and she would soon pay a visit to the Greek-Macedonian border.

“I understand why Slovenia set barbed wire on its border with Croatia, I understand Slovenia’s need to protect its territory and people, but I hope they will remove it as soon as possible,” also noted Grabar Kitarović.

President Fisher warned that the European Union should approach the issue of lifting visa restrictions for Turkish citizens very carefully, since the country has 80 million inhabitants.

T. B. B. (Radio Slovenija); translated by K. Z.