The Slovenian government has decided to extend temporary border controls with Croatia and Hungary by six months, Slovenian media reported.
Slovenian Minister of Internal Affairs Boštjan Poklukar said at a press conference today that the temporary control will continue to be implemented as before and will not negatively affect passengers, the environment, the economy and residents in the border area, Slovenian TV station 24ur reported.
„At the last moment, new threats appeared that have a real impact on public order and peace, as well as on internal security in Slovenia and the European Union”, pointed out Poklukar. „The threats originate mainly from the conflict in the Middle East, as well as from the escalation of tensions in relations between Iran and Israel. The security situation has not improved at the moment“.
Slovenia introduced controls on the internal Schengen borders with Croatia and Hungary because of the threat to security from the Middle East on October 21 last year, recalls Slovenian national television RTV Slo. Italy also introduced controls along its border with Slovenia.
The Slovenian interior minister noted today that there are also new security threats associated with Russia's aggression in Ukraine.
„Recently, warnings have been increasing about the increased hybrid activities of individuals connected to Russia. "Slovenia has recently been subject to cyber-attacks," added Poklukar, quoted by the Slovenian editorial office of regional television En1.
Challenges to security, according to him, are also migration flows, because of which the police are checking more and more incoming foreigners.
Yesterday Poklukar met with his colleagues from Croatia and Italy Davor Božinović and Matteo Piantedosi. They discussed joint border control, but did not come to concrete conclusions on this issue.