Slovenia supports Croatia’s entry into Schengen – EURACTIV.com
Slovenia is very much in favor of Croatia’s entry into the Schengen area, said Interior Minister Tatjana Bobnar, who met her Croatian counterpart Davor Božinović on Monday.
The two ministers discussed preparations for a cooperation agreement between the police of the two countries, which, according to Bobnar, is “crucial and very important” for Croatia’s entry into the Schengen area.
The talks were at a standstill for several years, but now a big step has been taken towards an agreement, said Bobnar.
“Of course, we expect from our Croatian colleagues complete control at the external border and the fulfillment of all other tasks provided for by the Schengen legal order,” she added.
Both Bobnarjeva and Božinović agreed that Croatia’s entry into the Schengen area is in the interest of both countries.
The Croatian minister emphasized that the abolition of border controls would make travel and life easier for everyone, and drew attention to cooperation and cross-border travel between the two countries.
“It is also up to our governments to adopt good and realistic solutions to achieve what the citizens expect from us, which is to continue life as before the epidemic and migrant crisis with as little administration as possible,” he said.
When a new left-liberal government took office in Slovenia in June, there was a fear that the country would try to prevent entry into the Schengen area due to a border dispute that has dragged on for three decades.
The first statements of the members of the new Slovenian government indicated that the solution to the border dispute would be used as a bargaining chip, but now it seems that this may not be the case after all.