Border controls with Hungary and Slovenia to be extended

Spread the love

Read Time:1 Minute, 51 Second

Border controls with Hungary and Slovenia will be extended for six months on Monday. This was announced by the Ministry of the Interior (BMI) on Sunday. It is a “necessary measure to deter the smuggling mafia,” it said. “The goal is clear: to push illegal migration towards zero,” ÖVP Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said. Border and near-border controls are essential factors in this. There has already been a massive reduction in apprehensions.

The controls at these borders have been in place since the fall of 2015. “At the Austrian-Hungarian border and the Austrian-Slovenian border, the Austrian border police are supported by soldiers of the Austrian Armed Forces in assistance operations,” the press release stated. Border controls have been carried out at the crossings to the Czech Republic and Slovakia since the fall of 2023.

Austria is also taking measures along the international smuggling routes in the Western Balkans and neighboring countries, the Ministry of the Interior emphasized: “Austrian police officers are currently deployed in Serbia and Hungary. Around 40 Austrian police officers are fighting cross-border crime on Hungarian territory as part of Operation Fox.”

“Drastic decline in apprehensions since fall 2023”
Attacks in Burgenland have fallen drastically since the fall of 2023. The BMI stated, “The smuggling mafia is avoiding Austria due to the numerous measures taken.” It therefore drew the following conclusion: “While 3,600 people were apprehended in Burgenland in calendar week 41/2022, only 19 people were apprehended in calendar week 17/2025.” The situation at the Austrian-Slovenian border, in turn, shows: “Illegal migration is close to zero. ”

ÖVP Minister Karner added, “For years, Austria has relied on extensive and intensive measures to protect its borders. I therefore welcome Germany’s decision to now also carry out increased controls at its borders. Austria and Germany must pull together in the fight against the smuggling mafia and take joint measures for robust protection of the EU’s external borders.”

Border controls in the Schengen area
According to the Federal Ministry of the Interior, ten EU/Schengen states currently carry out internal border controls: Bulgaria, Germany, Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Austria, Sweden, and Slovenia.