After four months of keeping border controls in place with Slovakia to curb migration, Czechia’s government decided to abolish them on Friday, February 1.
The removal of border checks has been officially confirmed by Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, who also noted that random border checks will continue.
Border controls have been in place upon an announcement to the European Commission by Czechia’s Ministry of the Interior since October 4, 2023, mainly due to concerns about irregular migration.
Significant increase in illegal secondary migration; increase in activity of organised groups of smugglers; deterioration of the migration and security situation at the EU’s external borders; internal borders with Slovakia.
Such measures were set to remain effective until October 13; however, the same have been extended several times since then. Up until now, Czechia has notified the European Commission six times regarding the extension of border control measures.
Increased irregular border attempts and the Israel-Hamas war have led several EU countries to reintroduce border controls as part of efforts to better manage the migration situation.
Earlier this month, the Italian Ministry of Interior announced that border controls between Italy and Slovenia have been further extended and will be kept in place until June 18.
The new changes came in spite of the commitment of both countries to restore free border movement “as soon as conditions allow,” as stressed by the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, in November last year.
There is a rise in the threat of violence within the EU following the attack on Israel, risk of possible terrorist infiltration, constant migratory pressure by sea and by land, and an increase in the Central Mediterranean migratory flow and land border with Slovenia.
Besides, earlier this month, Slovenia extended internal border controls with Croatia and Hungary for another six months.
Taking into account the principle of proportionality, the methods and intensity of temporary control measures at internal borders will continue to be targeted and focused on the prevention of terrorism, extremism, and cross-border crime.
Through a statement, the Ministry of Interior of Slovenia said that the country aims to prevent irregular migration, as well as terrorism, extremism, and people smuggling.
According to the figures provided by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, Frontex, a total of 380,000 irregular border crossing detections were registered at the EU’s external borders last year, thus reaching 2016 levels.
