Božinović applauds Slovenia's decision to lift border controls with Croatia

Italy and Slovenia reinstated border controls on October 21st, 2023. Both countries temporarily suspended the Schengen area's free-movement agreements, citing heightened security and terrorism risks following the outbreak of the conflict in the Middle East, as well as illegal migration along the so-called Balkan route.

Interior Minister Davor Božinović received his Slovenian counterpart Franci Matoz in Marija Gorica today, where they discussed joint activities in managing illegal migration and protecting the Schengen area. Božinović applauded Slovenia's decision to lift its reinstated border controls with Croatia: "This is in line with what we have been saying all along; that the European Union's borders are protected at its external borders, and that migrants definitely do not choose highways and main roads to move from one country to another."

For his part Minister Matoz noted that the decision will not reduce security: "Removing the police presence at former border crossings will not worsen security, quite the opposite as we will ensure greater security through compensatory measures. The fact is that there was no illegal migration at border crossings, so citizens need not be afraid their security is guaranteed."

And while it is clear that illegal migrants do not opt for major highway, roads or border-crossings to illegally enter EU member states, the fact remains that they continue to flow into EU countries. Exactly how member states will finally resolve the seemingly never ending influx of illegals remains a mystery.

Source: HRT