Austria, Italy, and Poland have extended border controls, with Norway also announcing the introduction of controls related to the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony.
In early December, Poland extended border controls along its border with Slovakia until January 2, 2024. These controls will exclusively apply to the entry route into Poland, and the Border Guard emphasizes that designated crossing points are available.
Until January 2, 2024, the Polish-Slovak border can be crossed at 17 road border crossings, including Radoszyce, Periwinkle, Muszynka, Piwniczna-Zdrój – Mnišek nad Popradom, Jurgów, Chyżne, Korbielów, Zwardoń – Skalité Platforma, Leluchów (reserved for EU citizens, EFTA member states, and Swiss Confederation citizens, along with their spouses and children), Konieczna (excluding buses and minibuses, intended only for the mentioned parties and their families), Niedzica, Łysa Polana, Chochołów, Winiarczykówka, Ujsoły, Bór, and Jaworzynka – Čierne – Skalité.
Last week, in addition to Germany, Italy and Austria also extended their border controls.
The controls at the Italian-Slovenian borders will remain in effect until December 19, while Austrians will conduct checks on the Czech Republic border until December 16. Border controls with Slovakia will persist until February 3, 2024. The Czech government also extended measures on the borders with Slovakia, with controls lasting until January 3 next year.
Norway announced the introduction of border controls in connection with the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, effective at all borders until December 18.
Will the control continue for another two months?
Controls at the German borders with Poland, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland have been in place since October 16 this year and are regularly extended. Last week, Nancy Faeser, the German Minister of the Interior, revealed in an interview with the Rheinische Post that border controls would be extended for at least another two months.
She stated, ‘Our measures are working. Our fight against the unscrupulous activities of smugglers who brutally endanger people’s lives is bearing fruit,’ as quoted by Rheinische Post