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Border controls with the Czech Republic will be extended again – this has been confirmed by the Ministry of the Interior. This is necessary to combat the smuggling mafia and terrorism. Currently, Austria also controls the borders with Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia.
02/17/2024 06:59
Online since today, 6:59 am
Border controls with the Czech Republic apply until April 16th. It is the second extension since the controls were introduced in October. The extension is necessary because the protection of the EU's external borders and the Schengen system are not working, according to a noe.ORF.at request from the Ministry of the Interior (BMI).
To combat smuggling and terrorism, border controls with the Czech Republic are being expanded – because “terrorism is also financed by the smuggling mafia”, says the BMI.
More than 700 smugglers were arrested last year
There are currently border controls with Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia; according to the BMI, there are “intensive controls in the area close to the border” at all other borders. “The controls are necessary to fill gaps in the control network and thus prevent evasive movements by the smuggling mafia”, he states. According to the BMI, 725 smugglers were arrested across Austria last year.
There has already been a “significant decrease in seizures” at the Burgenland border, and smugglers are now “avoiding Austria”, said Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) at a press conference with Bavarian State Minister for the Interior Joachim Herrmann, on Tuesday.