Temporary Controls to Be Maintained at the Slovak-Hungarian Border

MTI-Hungary Today 2023.12.07.

The Slovak government has once again extended temporary border controls at the Slovak-Hungarian border, which were first introduced in October, the Slovak public news agency TASR reported on Wednesday, citing a decision by the Bratislava government. The control period, which has already been extended several times and is justified by the need to curb illegal migration, will be extended by one month, (i.e. the period previously set until December 23 will be extended until January 22).

Slovakia introduced temporary border controls at the Slovak-Hungarian border on October 5. The decision came a day after the Czech Republic, Austria, and Poland introduced a similar measure at their borders with Slovakia.

As the Bratislava government emphasized,

the extension of border controls is again aimed at reducing the number of illegal migrants entering the country,

and to filter out any potential threats to public order and state security in this context. As before, checks will be carried out along the entire border.

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According to the Slovak Interior Ministry, which has put forward both current and previous proposals for an extension, the border controls introduced in October are “living up to expectations,” as the number of illegal migrants attempting to cross the border and being apprehended has decreased.

Fact

As Hungary Today reported, Slovakia first introduced these measures in October. Prime Minister Robert Fico and Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok announced the decision, adding that attention should be turned to the Gaza Strip and possible security threats. “Illegal migration, if left uncontrolled, can bring in ‘glitches’ who are linked to terrorist networks,” stressed Fico. 5,000 illegal migrants entered Slovakia last year and almost ten times that number so far this year. This is a dangerous increase, especially given that recent information and events on the Balkan migration route show a link between people smugglers and certain terrorist groups. The Slovak government is cooperating with Hungarian authorities in the operation.

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Via MTI, Featured image via Facebook/Polícia Slovenskej republiky