Meeting on the Western Balkans migration route: Leaders agree plan of action #WesternBalkansRoute

In view of the unfolding emergency in the countries along the Western Balkans migratory route, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker hosted on 25 October a Leaders' Meeting at the European Commission's Berlaymont Headquarters. Leaders have adopted a 17-point action plan to improve co-operation on border management and step up the provision of humanitarian support to asylum seekers along the Western Balkan Route.

President Juncker said: "Countries affected should not only talk about each other and at each other, but also with each other. Neighbours should work together not against each other. Refugees need to be treated in a humane manner along the length of the Western Balkans route to avoid a humanitarian tragedy in Europe. I am therefore pleased that today we were able to jointly agree on a 17-point plan of pragmatic and operational measures to ensure people are not left to fend for themselves in the rain and cold."

Attending the Leaders' Meeting were the heads of state or government of Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia. The presidents of the European Parliament and Council, the Luxembourg and incoming Netherlands Presidency of the Council of the EU and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees also attended this Leaders' Meeting. The European Asylum Support Office (EASO) and the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union (Frontex) were also  represented.

Full leaders' statement

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