Slovenia To Demand EU Visas On Border, Effectively Closing Migrant Route

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WATCH: Three Iraqis stuck at a camp in the Greek town of Idomeni on Macedonia's border reacted with dismay to a possible deal on migrants between the European Union and Turkey. The draft agreement envisions a plan that would send thousands of migrants in Greece back to Turkey. (RFE/RL's Balkan Service)

Slovenia's Interior Ministry says it will begin limiting the entry of migrants into its territory, beginning March 9.

The move is aimed at slowing the number of migrants that are passing into Slovenia from neighboring Croatia -- both members of the European Union -- as they try to reach more prosperous EU countries further north.

Serbia’' government says it has been informed by Ljubljana that Slovenia's border guards will demand on March 9 that any person entering its territory must have a valid EU visa.

The move would effectively close one of the routes used by migrants passing from Turkey and Greece through the Balkans to reach EU countries like Germany.

Serbia, which is not a member of the EU, says it will begin applying similar measures on its own borders to limit the number of migrants entering its territory from Macedonia.

Based on reporting by Reuters, AP, and AFP