The Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders will visit Macedonia and Greece on Sunday, the Dutch Embassy has announced. Holland currently holds the rotating European Union Presidency. Meetings with the Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov and the Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, will focus on the refugee crisis and opportunities for better cooperation between countries on the western Balkan’s route for refugee’s. It is envisaged that they will visit the Macedonian/Greek border, where refugees arrive on their way to North West Europe.
“Pressure on the borders of Macedonia grow when other countries on the refugee route put stricter controls on their respective borders. This is a problem that has to be taken seriously. Solidarity should not stop at EU borders. Our neighbours are part of the solution to this problem”, said Koenders, before the forthcoming meeting with Ivanov, where they discuss the challenges faced by countries on the refugee western Balkan route. During his visit to Athens, Koenders and Tsipras will discuss more efficient surveillance of the external borders of the EU and improvements to the registration process of refugees. The Dutch Foreign Minister will reiterate the Dutch EU Presidency theme that all UN member states must meet their responsibilities for the proper functioning of the Schengen area.
