A Serbian cabinet minister has warned that his government could take neighbouring Croatia to the international courts over Zagreb's decision to effectively shut down the Croatian border with Serbia, Croatian state news agency HINA reports.
Aleksandar Vulin, Serbia's minister for social affairs urged Croatia to reverse plans to stop traffic between the two countries in trying to reduce the flow of refugees and migrants into the EU, adding that Belgrade could seek legal action.
The crossing of refugees through EU-member Croatia increased heavily this week after Hungary, also an EU-member and part of the Schengen Area that allows free movement between signatory countries, closed its border with Serbia. The move practically closed the so-called Western Balkan route that thousands of refugees take to Northern Europe. The route passes through Serbia and enters the Schengen zone through Serbia's northern neighbour Hungary.
Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanović defended his country's decision to introduce new measures in managing its borders, saying that it will begin implementing a new "plan B" in handling migrants due to the heightened traffic as a result of Hungary's decision. A razor wire fence, similar to the one built along Hungary's border with Serbia will now be constructed on Croatia's border with its southern neighbour.
Croatia's Ministry of Health reported that by 9 a.m. on Friday over 14,000 migrants had crossed into the country.
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