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Minister Poklukar with Italian counterpart on migration

Yesterday, 17 July 2019, the Minister of the Interior Boštjan Poklukar met with the Minister of the Interior of the Italian Republic Matteo Salvini on the margins of the Informal JHA Council Meeting. The main topic of their discussion was migration.

The ministers agreed that it is not the border between Slovenia and Italy that is the problem, but the external EU border, which needs to be better protected. They expressed their readiness to assist Croatia should the latter identify a need for assistance. Minister Poklukar also mentioned potential deployment of Frontex to the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Minister Poklukar told his counterpart that their announcement of closing the border is unnecessary, as it is not justified by the situation at the borders, while a stricter border regime would strongly interfere with the day-to-day life of the border population, which must also be viewed in the context of historical circumstances.

Minister Poklukar assured Minister Salvini that Slovenia is effectively protecting the external Schengen border and described the measures adopted by the police for this purpose. He also provided him with the relevant statistics, drawing his attention to the situation in the Western Balkan region.

The ministers agreed that they would meet again shortly and continue their discussion on possible solutions to the migration situation in the region and the wider area and on cooperation in the field of justice and home affairs.