The Slovenian government has announced that it will no longer have border control checkpoints in place at its borders with Hungary and Croatia, Hungary Today reports.
The checkpoints were introduced, despite the free movement of the Schengen Area, in October 2023. Following the 7 October attacks by Hamas on Israel, the Slovenian government felt it was necessary to take extra protective measures due to the enhanced terror threat. The Russo–Ukrainian war was also part of the justification for the decision. The Italian government took similar measures at its country’s border with Slovenia in response.
Now, after a cabinet meeting on Thursday, 11 June, the Ministry of the Interior and Public Administration in Ljubljana, Slovenia, announced that the border control checkpoints have been lifted.
The permanent presence of police officers at Croatia’s and Hungary’s border crossings ended at midnight that day. Traffic signs related to the controls will be updated promptly, while the equipment used for border inspections will be removed. As a result, both travellers and freight transport operators will once again be able to cross the borders without interruption.
According to the Slovenian government, there is no longer an objective justification for maintaining fixed border checkpoints. Authorities believe the police can effectively monitor the country’s borders through more efficient and modern methods. The Ministry of the Interior has also highlighted the economic and logistical benefits of ending the stationary checks.
Slovenia’s move comes after pressure from Brussels. Last week, the European Commission urged Slovenia and eight other countries within the Schengen Area to begin gradually lifting their temporary internal border checks.
The countries targeted by the appeal include Italy and Austria, both of which have continued to enforce border controls with Slovenia. According to the European Commission, the implementation of the EU Migration Pact, which enters into force across member states on Friday, provides the necessary framework for restoring a fully functioning Schengen Area without internal border controls.
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