The Slovenian authorities have said that the country will introduce police checkpoints along its border with Croatia in an attempt to prevent irregular entries into its territory.
As the authorities have explained, the police will randomly check individual vehicles, meaning that it will still be possible to cross the border between the two countries without additional controls.
The decision of Slovenia to introduce police checkpoints at the border with Croatia was taken due to an increase in irregular migration. The checkpoints will be set up near the border, in areas where it is safe and convenient for the police to stop and check vehicles.
During these checks, the police will require those crossing the border to show their travel documents. In addition, the police might also require them to provide a reason for their entry as well as their planned time of stay in the country.
Data show that following Croatia’s entry into the Schengen, the number of migrants entering Slovenia irregularly started to increase significantly.
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Slovenia, so far this year, more than 41,700 foreigners have been arrested for irregularly crossing the border. Moreover, during the same period, the Ministry said that 275 people smugglers facilitating irregular entry into Slovenia have also been arrested.
Even though the authorities have said that they immediately take measures against those entering its territory illegally, they have said that 98 per cent of arrested foreigners express their intention to apply for international protection, with the police having to hand them over for the asylum procedure.
Taking into account the current situation, the Slovenian authorities have already called on the Croatian authorities to take measures, too.
Earlier this month, the Minister of Internal Affairs of Slovenia, Boštjan Poklukar, urged his Croatian counterpart, Minister Davor Božinović, to take new measures at the joint border to tackle the increasing number of people crossing the border between the two countries through irregular routes.
In a phone conversation, Minister Božinović said to Minister Poklukar that the number of irregular migrants has especially increased in the municipality of Brežice.
Through an official statement, the Ministry of Interior of Slovenia said that the police have already taken measures to strengthen control in the above-mentioned area. The same said that they have deployed additional police staff.
During the conversation that the two ministers had, they agreed that several other measures should be taken to strengthen controls at the common border and tackle irregular migration.
Additionally, they also agreed that cooperation between the two countries is very important when it comes to keeping irregular migration under control.
