European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker speaks during a press conference at the end of the special EU summit with Western Balkan nations situated along the migrant routes into Europe in Brussels, Belgium, on Oct. 26, 2015. The European Union (EU) and Balkan countries are seeking further cooperation on tackling migrant crisis at a mini summit held here on Sunday. (Xinhua/Zhou Lei)
BRUSSELS, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Leaders from 11 European countries on Sunday agreed on a 17-point plan of action to tackle challenges arising from refugee flows along the Western Balkans route.
They will nominate contact points within 24 hours to allow daily exchanges and coordination to achieve gradual, controlled and orderly movement of refugees along the route.
Countries along the route pledged to work with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and increase efforts to manage borders.
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said that refugees need to be treated in a humane manner along the route to avoid a humanitarian tragedy in Europe.
"I am therefore pleased that today we were able to jointly agree on a 17-point plan of pragmatic and operational measures to ensure people are not left to fend for themselves in the rain and cold," he said.
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