Slovak Minister of the Interior Matúš Šutaj Eštok (Hlas-SD) attended the first meeting of the EU Council on Internal Affairs this year on Wednesday. The discussions focused on the current state of the Schengen area, return policy, border controls, and security cooperation.
The meeting began with an overview of the Schengen barometer, which assesses the state of the Schengen area. This time, the report primarily addressed the situation at the internal borders of Schengen, which remain a challenge.
"Practice clearly shows us where we are successful, but also where we have room for improvement. However, I must say that based on the Schengen evaluation, Slovakia is fulfilling its obligations properly, and in some measures, we rank among the best," noted Šutaj Eštok.
On Wednesday, the EU Council adopted recommendations aimed at increasing the effectiveness of return mechanisms for irregular migrants and emphasized the need for better coordination among member states. Slovakia called for a more active role of the European Commission in establishing partnerships with third countries.
Ministers also discussed the gradual implementation of the Entry/Exit system, which will record individuals entering the EU from third countries. Another part of the discussions focused on cooperation with Latin American countries in combating drug trafficking and organized crime.
"Such regional cooperation improves the detection and investigation of cases, limits the ability of criminals to find safe havens in any of our regions," added Šutaj Eštok.
The talks also addressed current security challenges related to the regime change in Syria. Ministers agreed that the situation in Syria remains complex and uncertain, requiring close monitoring of all risks. At the same time, it will be necessary to fully utilize all available tools, protect external borders, and explore options for returns to Syria, the minister’s office added.
During the meeting, the minister also held a bilateral discussion with the Czech Deputy Minister of the Interior, Lukáš Hendrych. They talked about secondary transit migration, which was influenced by the introduction of border controls by the Czech Republic. Slovakia has recorded an almost 95% decrease in comparison to 2023.
Source: TASR
