Roundup: Greece-Macedonia border under pressure, awaiting Frontex aid

Greek officials and entrepreneurs were counting on Tuesday the economic cost of a two week blockade in rail services by protesting migrants in the border with Macedonia, as Greece awaits the deployment of the European border protection agency Frontex forces in the area to assist the registration process and ease tensions.

With dozens of containers remaining stranded in the borderline for days and millions of euros in losses local and multinational companies have turned to alternative routes to deliver their products in central Europe.

Hewlett Packard which delivered a large part of its products to Europe via Piraeus port and then by train through the Balkans, has already changed route. Lately HP containers head towards Slovenia, local media reported.

Greek exporters have also sought alternative routes in order to deliver their products in time for the Christmas holidays turning mainly to Bulgaria, the Federation of Northern Greece Exporters said in a statement on Tuesday.

The Federation noted that the shift burdened enterprises with approximately 20-25 percent increase on transport costs.

In statements to Greek media Deputy Migration Policy Minister Yannis Mouzalas has pledged to resolve the problems at the border crossing of Idomeni within the next few days.

About 1,000-2,000 migrants and refugees have occupied the rail tracks in protest of Macedonia's recent decision to allow only refugees from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan to continue their journey towards other European countries.

The Greek government is setting up more camps in the nearby city of Thessaloniki to accommodate them, as it criticizes Macedonia's stance and calls for more help from European partners to tackle the situation.

About 700,000 refugees and migrants have reached Greece since the start of 2015 seeking a better future in more prosperous European countries. The debt-laden country was unable to offer them adequate support for months and was heavily criticized by other EU member states and neighboring countries of failing to guard its borders.

Athens formally submitted last week requests to activate EU mechanisms designed for crisis situations, claiming that partners have failed to provide enough assistance to Greece so far and share the burden.

Next week Frontex agents were expected to be deployed at Greece's border with FYROM to assist in the registration of refugees and migrants arriving there, the European Commission spokeswoman on migration issues Natasha Bertaud said on Monday.

Moreover Frontex will further assist Greece in patrolling the Aegean Sea.

Mouzalas, as well as other Greek officials, have said that Frontex has responded so far to only about 10 percent of what Athens had requested.

"We have requested the deployment of 1,600 Frontex agents in Greece and we have received about 170 officers," Mouzalas told Skai TV on Tuesday. Endit