“The goal is to protect the external Schengen borders to such an extent that the introduction of restrictions or the reinstatement of border controls within the Area is not required”, Minister of Interior Sándor Pintér stressed on Tuesday in Budapest following a meeting with his Slovenian counterpart.
The Minister told reporters: It has become clear that joint action against illegal immigration on the part of the two countries, during the course of which “we solved our problems while helping each other rather than to each other’s detriment”, was a good decision.
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Mr. Pintér indicated that both countries have long external Schengen borders and so both are tasked with protecting the internal Member States of the European Union against illegal migration.
According to the Interior Minister, “Cooperation this year was based on the results of last year’s solidarity and the parties also think similarly with regard to the legislative amendments required to protect the external Schengen borders”.
“The European Union is currently involved in drawing up a draft of legislation on how to protect the external border, how to participate in the setting of up of a border and coast guard, and how to handle the migrants that are already within the borders of the EU”, he added.
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“The new regulations will determine refugee and security policy for many years to come and will also affect terrorism policy”, he noted.
“We have agreed to strive to put forwards proposals that suit both countries at the various EU forums”, he added.
Among practical issues, Mr. Pintér mentioned that the parties had agreed to enable the two countries’ offices of immigration and nationality to engage in direct dialogue.
At the event, Slovenian Minister of Interior Vesna Györkös Znidar said on the subject of the excellent relationship between the two countries: “the Slovenian authorities received expert assistance from Hungarian police and now the Slovenians are involved in the protection of the Hungarian-Serbian border within the framework of Frontex”.
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“The external border of the European Union must be protected effectively”, she stressed, adding that “Slovenia views the European border and coast guard as an excellent opportunity and the goal is for the unit to be set up and begin operating efficiently as soon as possible”.
The Slovenian Interior Minister also told reporters that Slovenia is a supporter of the recently often mentioned flexible solidarity and as a small country “feels it is important that emphasis should not only be placed on relocation, but that other forms of solidarity should also be taken into account”.
“Schengen is a key acquis for the European Union and ‘we have agreed’ that there can be no talk of internal borders within the EU and the free movement of people cannot be restricted by internal borders”, Ms. Györkös Znidar said, pointing out that Member States cannot offload their domestic political problems onto others.
“Ljubljana is amending Slovenia’s legislation on foreigners”, she said, adding that the hope is that the stricter regulations will not have to be applied, but that Slovenia will do so if necessary because they must know who crosses the country’s borders. “A wave of people similar to the one last autumn is unacceptable to Slovenia”, she declared.
(Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister/MTI)
