Macedonia Announces New Measures to Control Refugee Flow at Border with Greece

Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia will meet on Monday to try and help Macedonia assume responsibility of slowing the refugee flow into Europe.

The Macedonian government has announced drastic new measures to increase border security with Greece. Each refugee entering the country will be subjected to a 30-minute interview to verify his or her nationality. New registration documents will help Macedonia share information faster with Balkan nations.

Army personnel stationed along Macedonia's southern border say on average 100 people are sent back a day, including children.

The law permits legitimate refugees from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan to enter Macedonia. That still amounts to roughly 1,500 people a day.

Macedonia has already constructed a barbed wire fence along 60 kilometers of its border with Greece to stop illegal crossings, and just last week began building a second layer to reinforce that.

Last week, Austria announced a cap on the number of refugees it will accept, which has forced Macedonia to take action. After that, Macedonia appeared open to the idea of closing its border.

Germany has expressed concern that a complete closure could make matters worse for Greece, which cannot even finance social services for Greeks without going deeper into debt.

For now, Macedonia's newly announced measures to tighten border security may be the country's only option.

Newly-arrived refugees say they are relieved to have made it this far. At the country's reception center, they are welcomed with a hot meal and some new clothes.

"Mostly they need jackets, winter clothes now, because they are traveling from southern parts of the world to the north. So It's another climate in Syria, something else in Turkey. When they enter Europe, Macedonia, especially Serbia, it's much colder," said Artan Fejzullahu from Legis, a Skopje-based non-government organization working with migrants and refugees in Macedonia.

The refugees are also given a place to rest before carrying on their journey.

"Our plan was to go to Germany. It is a calm place with good people. They are hospitable and kind, and they give our children good education," said Syed Habibullah Sadat, an Afghan refugee.

With airstrikes intensifying in northern Syria and warmer weather approaching, the future remains uncertain for the thousands more heading this way.