Serbia warns of counter measures unless Croatia reopens border

The main border crossing Bajakovo-Batrovci between Croatia and Serbia is closed on Wednesday, though the Western Balkan countries were urged to keep their borders open for the sake of economy in the region.

The border crossing is closed to all traffic following truck drivers, who were waiting in Bajakovo-Batrovci for days, protested on Tuesday evening and the trucks have to transit Bosnia to Croatia, local media reported.

Croatia on Sunday night closed Bajakovo-Batrovci crossing, the only open border crossing among eight with Serbia since refugees flooded the country, to trucks from Serbian side, after its neighbor "intentionally" redirected refugees to the country, the reports said.

Serbia on Wednesday complained to EU on Croatia's move and said Croatia was waging a trade war against Serbia.

Serbia warned it has prepared a set of counter measures against Croatia and would put them into effect on Thursday unless Croatia reopens the border.

Serbian exports heavily depends on transit through Croatia. It was estimated the cost of the potential damage for Serbia could be 21 million euros (23 million U.S. dollars) a day if the borders remain sealed.

The European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement, Johannes Hahn, on Wednesday called on Western Balkan countries to keep their borders open, and warned that the situation could affect the economic situation in the region. Enditem