Austria extends border controls with the Czech Republic and Slovakia

Vienna – Border controls with the Czech Republic and Slovakia have been extended for another six months on Tuesday. The continuation of controls is a necessary measure to deter the smuggler mafia, the Austrian Ministry of the Interior announced on Tuesday evening. At the border with Slovakia, as well as with Hungary, the police are currently supporting health authorities in the fight against the spread of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).

As part of the measures taken in connection with the disease, numerous border crossings to Slovakia and Hungary have also been temporarily closed. Controls have been in place at the crossings to Hungary and Slovenia since autumn 2015. Around 40 Austrian police officers are combating cross-border crime on Hungarian territory as part of Operation Fox. In addition, Austrian police officers are currently deployed in Serbia and Hungary against smugglers.

Ten Schengen countries are conducting internal border controls

The Austrian controls take place stationary at border crossing points, but also mobile in the border area. “Border controls are and remain a decisive factor in the fight against illegal migration. The measures taken have massively reduced illegal migration, with the aim of pushing it to zero,” said Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP). The apprehensions in the Balkan region have drastically decreased in the past 18 months, the ministry added. “The smuggler mafia avoids Austria due to the numerous measures taken.”

In a press release on Wednesday, FPÖ security spokesman and National Council member Gernot Darmann reacted to Karner’s migration policy “with his loser traffic light.” The extension of border controls announced by the ÖVP would “by far” not be sufficient. A comprehensive and consistent border protection as well as an immediate asylum stop are needed, as “asylum seekers continue to flood across our borders to then nest in our social system.”

Currently, ten EU and Schengen countries are conducting internal border controls: Bulgaria, Germany, Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Austria, Sweden, and Slovenia. (16.03.2025)