Austria’s neighboring country, the Czech Republic, and neighboring Poland are expanding their border controls with Slovakia. The checks aim to curb illegal immigration.
Poland and the Czech Republic have expanded their temporary border controls with Slovakia against illegal immigration. “Border controls will be extended until December 3,” read a regulation from the Polish Ministry of the Interior on Wednesday. According to Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakusan, the controls are necessary because there is no common EU policy that would better protect the EU’s external border and restrict migration.
“If neighboring countries have an interest in maintaining these controls, I can’t imagine that we will be the only country to lift them,” he said. The Czech Republic will control its border crossings with its southeastern neighbor until January 3.
Migrants from the Middle East or Afghanistan arrive through Slovakia
Slovakia is a transit country for migrants mainly from the Middle East and Afghanistan. This year, 46 thousand people entered Slovakia illegally until mid-November – six times more than in the same period last year. Poland, the Czech Republic and Austria reinforced controls at their borders with Slovakia on October 4. For its part, Slovakia approved on Monday its temporary border controls with Hungary until December 23. Taking into account growing illegal migration movements, Germany has also introduced border controls with its eastern neighbors. The countries are part of the European Schengen area with open borders.
According to Rakusan, the interior ministers of Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria and Slovakia want to meet in Hungary next Monday to discuss the situation. (APA)