Can Greece cope with the refugee crisis?

More than 100,000 refugees and migrants have arrived in Greece in the first two months of this year.

Many hoping to travel further across Europe are struggling to make that dream a reality.

Now their journey has become more difficult.

Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia have announced that they will accept fewer than 600 migrants and refugees a day. Austria will take only 80 asylum seekers daily.

So the burden on Greece weighs more heavily than ever before.

The growing humanitarian crisis complicates an already fragile economic situation, as many Greeks struggle with years of austerity.

Austria’s refusal to accept more refugees is damaging relations with Greek government leaders.

So what is the impact on European relations? And can the EU help?

Presenter: Jane Dutton

Guests:

Karl Kopp – Director for European Affairs of the human rights organisation Pro Asyl

Gerald Knaus – Chairman of the European Stability Initiative

Florian Hartleb – Political scientist researching Europe’s security crisis