On October 3, 2023, the Czech Republic and Poland announced a joint effort to introduce border checks along their shared borders with Slovakia. The objective is to curb illegal migration and combat smuggler operations.
Austria subsequently followed suit, implementing similar controls on its border with Slovakia.
These measures are set to last for at least 10 days.
In response to the controls in neighbouring countries, Slovakia has announced that it has reintroduced controls on its border with Hungary from 5 October to 14 October.
Details of the Slovakian-Polish border controls
In Poland, the border controls went into effect on October 4, 2023. They are conducted only at specified border crossings, with individuals and vehicles selected for inspection based on risk analysis.
These are the 9 border crossings where travellers can enter Poland from Slovakia:
- Radoszyce
- Periwinkle
- Muszynka
- Piwniczna-Zdrój – Mnišek nad Popradom
- Jurgów
- Chyżne
- Korbielów
- Zwardoń – Skalité Platforma
- Leluchów – road crossing from October 5 intended only for EU citizens and their spouses and children.
Travellers must possess valid travel documents, such as ID cards or passports, to cross the border. Various road, railway, and pedestrian border crossings remain operational.
Austria joins the initiative
Austria’s Interior Minister, Gerhard Karner, announced the implementation of border controls with Slovakia on 3 October, aligning the nation’s policy with the Czech Republic and Poland.
The controls in Austria, initially planned to last for ten days, were introduced to prevent any spillover effects from the neighboring countries.
Slovakian checks on Hungarian borders
In response to the controls in neighbouring countries, Slovakia has announced that it reintroduces controls on its border with Hungary from 5 October to 14 October.
Slovak Prime Minister Ľudovít Ódor has said that random border checks with Hungary will be in effect from Thursday until October 14, primarily focusing on suspicious vehicles while minimizing traffic disruption, reports national daily Pravda.
Ódor does not view border controls as a comprehensive solution to the migration challenges within the European Union, emphasizing that the impact on Europe as a whole will be limited.
He expressed concerns about border control measures becoming a divisive issue among EU member states.
German controls on the Polish and Czech borders
Meanwhile, Germany, facing increasing pressure to address a growing number of asylum seekers, imposed temporary border controls with Poland and the Czech Republic from 26 September.
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser announced “flexible spot checks” at the two borders, which began immediately.
These controls are said to aim to combat human trafficking while minimizing disruption to people and the economy.