End of Schengen at Hungary’s borders? Here’s Slovenia’s unforeseen decision

The Slovenian interior minister announced that his country would continue border control even during the summer and postponed its possible end date until 21 December. The border between Slovenia and Hungary “disappeared” after both countries joined the Schengen Zone in 2007. It seems that the measure lasted less than 15 years.

Slovenia extends border control deadline

According to 444.hu, Slovenia decided to prolong its border control on the Hungarian-Slovenian border for six more months. The new possible end date is 21 December, but the Slovenian government postponed that multiple times. The same measure applies to the Croatian-Slovenian border.

Interior minister Bostjan Poklukar announced on Wednesday that new threats appeared recently, affecting public order and safety in Slovenia and the European Union considerably. He mentioned the violence in the Middle East, the growing tensions between Iran and Israel, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Moreover, he talked about cyber attacks against Slovenia, the UEFA European Football Championships in Germany and the upcoming summer Olympic games in Paris. Mr Poklukar did not forget to mention the illegal migration, too.

The Hungarian border fence at the Serbian-Hungarian border. Is this the future of the Schengen Zone? Photo: facebook.com/UNHCRMagyarorszag

Could joint patrols be an alternative?

He repeated that Ljubljana is ready to introduce joint border patrol with Italian police officers. Such joint patrols could be an alternative to the “temporary Schengen border controls”, he added.

He said they would not like to disturb travellers, the economy or people close to the borders.

Slovenia reinstated temporary border control on 21 October 2023. That came after Rome’s similar decision. Both measures have been prolonged multiple times.

Photo: facebook.com/PoliceHungaryOfficial

Germany and Austria also reinstated border control: here’s the end of Schengen?

Germany did the same last October. According to Portfolio, they apprehended 920 people smugglers and 37,600 illegal migrants thanks to the measure. Therefore, they also prolonged it until December. Border control has been in effect on the Austrian-German border since autumn 2015.

Austria decided to prolong border control on the Hungarian-Austrian border this April, and the measure will be in effect until November.

It seems that Schengen may collapse due to illegal migration and the growing number of violent conflicts in and close to Europe.

Read also:

• Austria to extend border control at Hungarian border for 6 more months – Read more HERE
• 32 Ukrainians detained for illegally crossing into Hungary in fake military truck