BERLIN/ IDOMENI – There is no question that Germany has benefited from
the closure of the Balkan migrant route north into Europe, Chancellor Angela
Merkel said during a news conference on Monday, though she vowed to press ahead
with her quest for a Europe-wide solution to the refugee crisis.

“Regarding the Balkan route, yes, there is no doubt that Germany,
at the moment, benefits from the fact that fewer people are coming and that
also is connected to the closure of the Greek-Macedonian border,” Merkel said,.

“I have never spoken out against national measures. I have spoken
out in favour of border controls, better registration, deportations, the asylum
packages,” she added when asked if more national, rather than Europe-wide,
measures should be deployed.

Meanwhile in Greece, hundreds of migrants
have streamed out of a camp near the northern Greek border to try to find a way
around a border fence blocking their way into Macedonia, a Reuters witness
said.

A large group
of migrants marched away from the sprawling tent city near Idomeni, where at
least 12,000 people have been stranded in filthy conditions since Macedonia and
other nations blocked their route north along the so-called Western Balkan
route, according to a Reuters TV crew.

Later a second group of 500
migrants set off from Idomeni to follow them.

Earlier, Macedonian police said three migrants – two men and a woman –
had drowned while trying to cross a river close to the Greek border that had
been swollen by heavy rain.

Greece has stepped up efforts to move thousands of migrants near the
Macedonian border to sheltered camps amid fears about the spread of infectious
diseases.

European Union leaders and Turkey are due to meet again on Thursday and Friday to
seal a deal to try to stem illegal migrant flows from Turkey to Europe through
Greece.

– Reuters