Border controls temporarily imposed on Slovakia last week are being extended. With this move, Austria follows the neighboring Czech Republic, which announced on Wednesday that it would extend its identity checks at the border with Slovakia until October 28.
Because of the Czech controls, the Ministry of the Interior feared a possible shift in the route of the people smugglers, who ran via the Czech Republic towards Germany to Austria. Controls at the Austro-Slovak border were originally scheduled to end on Saturday, but have now been extended for another 20 days, Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) announced.
“Thwarting the smugglers’ dirty business”
The measure was taken in close coordination and agreement with the Czech Interior Ministry, it said. The extension was “necessary to thwart the smugglers’ dirty business in a sustainable and consistent manner,” Interior Secretary Karner said in a statement. Since border controls began last Thursday, eight people smugglers operating from Slovakia to Austria have been arrested, the interior ministry said.
Illegal migration is on the rise
Due to the sharp increase in illegal migration, the Czech government decided last week to take measures at the internal border of Schengen. Slovakia reacted with little satisfaction to the border controls of its two neighboring countries, the Czech Republic and Austria.
Prime Minister Eduard Heger criticized last week that the move was incorrect as it violated Schengen principles. Austria has been carrying out border controls with Hungary and Slovenia for years.
Source: Krone
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