Slovenia has decided to prolong internal border controls with Croatia and Hungary by a further six months, starting on December 21, the day the existing measure expires. As announced by Slovenian officials, the prolonged regulations will be in place from December 22, 2023, until June 22, 2024.

Earlier in the month, Interior Minister Boštjan Poklukar hinted at the possibility of a six-month extension, stressing the need for ongoing efforts with both nations and said there were no intentions to remove border controls anytime soon.

Since they were first put into place on October 21, Slovenia has continuously expanded internal border controls with Croatia and Hungary. According to the Ministry of Interior, the main goals of these measures are to stop irregular migration, terrorism, extremism, and people smuggling.

Marko Gašperlin, of the General Police Administration’s Uniformed Police Administration, emphasized that the more stringent border regulations are put in place purely to improve security in Slovenia.

People entering Slovenia through the Croatian and Hungarian borders will be subject to checks for the duration of the border restrictions. The Ministry did, however, highlight efforts to reduce the effects of these checks on travelers, trade, the environment, and locals living near the border.

Slovenia maintains internal border controls in line with other Schengen Member States. German border controls with Poland, Czechia, and Switzerland will be extended for an additional three months until March 2024. The reason given for this decision was the measures’ ability to effectively prevent people smuggling and irregular migration. Additionally, Austria has chosen to extend border controls with Czechia by two more months.