Slovakia is Implementing Control on the Hungarian Border Due to Illegal Migrants
Slovakia has introduced temporary control on its shared border with Hungary due to an influx of illegal migrants. The number of those who illegally crossed the border this year has increased by 11 times.
This information was reported by Reuters, citing a statement from the Slovak government.
Over the past nine months, at least 40,000 people have entered Slovakia, and in September, this figure was as high as it was throughout 2022.
Most illegal migrants come from the Middle East and Afghanistan and enter Slovakia through the border with Hungary.
According to the government's statement, checks on the Slovak-Hungarian border will begin on Thursday and will last for ten days. They will primarily focus on border sections between Slovakia and Hungary where there is a risk of illegal penetration. The total length of the border between these countries is 655 kilometers.
It is worth noting that it was previously announced that the authorities of Poland, the Czech Republic, and Austria will introduce selective checks on all roads along the Slovak border until October 13 to curb the flow of illegal migrants. It is also noted that border controls may be extended further.
"The number of illegal migrants entering the EU is beginning to rise again. We do not take this lightly and respond quickly to the situation. Thanks to control measures, we can better ensure the safety of our citizens. In particular, we are actively combating smugglers and human traffickers who trade in human suffering," said Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala.
Germany has previously strengthened its control over illegal migration by introducing checks on its borders with Poland and the Czech Republic.
According to Germany's Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser, if the country fails to protect its external borders, "open borders within the EU will be at risk." Thus, in the first seven months of 2023 alone, the number of asylum requests in Germany increased by 78%. At the same time, the number of registered illegal border crossings reached 14,700.
It should be noted that at the end of September, Poland had already begun intensified inspections of transportation, including buses, through which illegal migrants could enter the country.