Today is the 25th day after the government declared a state of emergency at the southern and northern border due to the large influx of migrants entering and transiting through the territory of Macedonia to the north. One more week remains until the state of emergency expires.
The decision to declare a state of emergency, made it possible for the Macedonian Army (ARM) and police officers to secure the border. The decision was made on the 19th of August at a session in government. Whether the state of emergency will be extended for another 30 days is still unknown as the authorities have yet to announce anything.
Data and analysis from the Ministry of Interior (MOI) shows that the refugee crisis will not likely end any time soon, and the expected number of refugees coming into the country through Greece in the coming period will increase even more. Such estimates increase the chances of the state of emergency being extended after the deadline.
“The decision to declare a state of emergency by the government was based on estimates by various institutions. As for other institutions we can not speak for them, but on behalf of the Ministry of Interior and according to information available to the ministry, the refugee crisis will unlikely be completed in due course. All the knowledge that we possess indicate that the number of refugees will increase”, said the Assistant Minister of Public Relations to the Ministry of Interior Ivo Kotevski.
A state of emergency under current law cannot last more than 30 days.
Should it last longer than 30 days, the Government should seek approval from Parliament to extend the deadline or offer a declaration of war or emergency.
Since announcing the temporary state of emergency, with the exception of the two days of tensions on the southern border, thousands of migrants and refugees who cross the border from Greece, have traveled to the northern border in a smooth and good fashion as coordination between competent institutions has be sufficient.
