The meeting, which was conducted in a cordial and constructive atmosphere, addressed the current migration situation in the EU and beyond. Minister Bobnar also presented the situation in Slovenia.  

So far this year, the Slovenian police have dealt with 4333 illegal crossings of the border, which is 76% more than in the same period last year. By 30 June 2022, 3,703 applications for international protection had been submitted, an increase of about 190% compared to the same period last year. Some 450 persons are still waiting for their applications to be accepted. Our asylum and reception system is under additional strain from displaced persons from Ukraine.  

Regular analyses by the Agency, which monitors asylum systems across EU countries, also show that Slovenia is among the EU member states with the highest number of applications per capita.

Ms Gregori presented the new mandate of the Agency and the operational assistance it provides to Member States. The Agency is currently present in 11 member states and one third country. The Minister congratulated the Director on the successful transition of the Asylum Support Office (EASO) into an asylum agency. Ms Gregori expressed her support for the Ministry’s efforts to regulate more effectively the migration issue in Slovenia, which is one of Minister Bobnar’s priorities.

They agreed that representatives of the Ministry and the Agency would meet soon to explore possibilities for concrete operational cooperation, in particular on the acceptance of applications for international protection and on sensitising police officers to work with vulnerable persons. The Minister reaffirmed the importance of the Agency's work as a form of solidarity, offering concrete operational assistance to countries under migratory pressure.