Unguarded borders

Borders exist to be guarded but Greece is projecting the image of a country that is not particularly concerned with doing so.

When the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) is able to send back refugees and migrants through various holes in the border without following any of the official channels it is reasonable that serious questions should arise.

The border crossing is also not being adequately managed by the Greek state. Whether trains are able to make it across or not and whether Greek businesses are accruing losses depends on the intentions of the residents of the tent city that the Greek state has allowed to grow there. Greece’s reputation and credibility are suffering because of the government’s inaction and passive stance.

We should also remember that any country showing that it cannot protect its borders will have to think hard about how this is perceived by those who challenge these boundaries.