At the Gate of Europe A Report on Refugees on the Western Balkan Route SENADA ŠELO ŠABIĆ SONJA BORIĆ Between September 2015 and March 2016, approximately 700,000 migrants headed for Western Europe entered the territories of Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia. All four countries served as transit routes for migrants on their way to Austria, Germany, and Sweden. An insignificant number of refugees applied for asylum in the four countries. Internal economic and political challenges, exacerbated by still unsolved bilateral issues and the legacy of the wars in the 1990s, continue to threaten regional stability. The recent migration crisis has only added to these tensions. These rising tensions have led to speculation about a renewal of conflict amongst these neighbours, some of whom are already EU member states; the others are EU candidate countries. Their shared geographical proximity along the refugee route has mattered more than pre-existing relationships to the EU. All shared the same concern that Germany and Austria might close their borders to migrants. None of the countries wanted to become a hotspot for refugees or host them over a longer period of time. After imposing daily entry limits of refugees in February, Austria announced a change of course with regard to the migration crisis. Consequently, it coordinated a set of meetings that effectively closed the Western Balkan route on March 9, 2016. While the countries along the Balkan route struggled to organise appropriate registration, accommodation, transport, and support for those entering their territories, concerns mounted over the daily waves of migrants entering the EU—and with it came mutual accusations.