Changes to the border crossing between Slovenia and Croatia after January 1, 2023
On this occasion, the minister also met with her Croatian colleague, Minister of the Interior Davor Božinović, who declared that “we are witnessing a historic event for Croatia”.
The ministers of Slovenia and Croatia symbolically announced Croatia’s entry into the Schengen area by raising the ramps at the border crossing and turning on the green light on the traffic light, which indicates the permitted crossing of the border. “This event follows several years of preparations from both sides of the border,” said the Slovenian minister, emphasizing that the Slovenian police will continue to provide the highest level of security in accordance with the strategy set.
As of January 1, 2023, Croatia is a full member of the Schengen area. This will abolish border controls at internal land and sea borders, while controls at internal air borders will be abolished on 26 March 2023.
On this occasion, the Slovenian minister recalled the recent 15th anniversary of Slovenia’s own entry into the Schengen area, on December 21, 2022. During this period, we “experienced the advantages and benefits of one of the greatest achievements of the European Union”. Residents of border regions will feel this the most, since after the abolition of border controls, it will be possible to cross the border everywhere with a valid travel document. All cross-border communication and all forms of closer cooperation will also be easier. The daily migration of workers across the Schengen internal borders will be greatly facilitated. In the border regions of both countries, the coordination and coordination of cross-border projects will be simplified. The economy and tourism expect very positive general effects with more fluid cross-border traffic, which promises an end to summer congestion and traffic jams, which in the past heavily burdened the environment.
Changes to the border crossing between Slovenia and Croatia after January 1, 2023
With the entry of Croatia into the Schengen area, the border crossing regime between Slovenia and Croatia will change. BLaw enforcement will be abolished at the land border between Slovenia and Croatia and the free flow of traffic will be enabled through the border crossings. All passengers who meet the conditions (valid passport for crossing the border) will be able to cross the border between these two countries anywhere.
A temporary traffic regime will be established at all land border crossings with Croatia, which enables a safe and as smooth as possible crossing of the border without stopping. We therefore advise all road users to take into account the posted temporary traffic signals and to be especially careful when driving in the areas of former border crossings.
The police will continue to provide the highest level of security
The Slovenian police have been preparing for Croatia’s entry into the Schengen area for quite some time already. The police have adopted a strategy that also defines the way of implementing compensatory measures at the internal borders with all neighboring countries and the implementation of EU law at the internal borders. The goal is to continue to maintain a high level of security.
As of January 1, police officers will mostly be redeployed from border crossings police stations for compensatory measures across the country. The focus will be shifted to mobile police units on all major roads, railway and bus stations and other locations that, based on risk analyzes and vulnerability assessments, have been identified as potentially risky for illegal migration, cross-border crime, and the like.
Police officers will remain present in the border area, and mixed Slovenian-Croatian patrols will also continue. Border facilities intended for the implementation of measures remain under police management. Other facilities and buildings will be made available to other users or removed.
The Slovenian police constantly monitors and analyzes the situation not only on the border with Croatia, but in the entire area of the Western Balkans, which directly affects the situation on the Slovenian border. All the measures introduced by the police have been and will be adjusted to the current security situation when Croatia enters the Schengen area with the aim of ensuring the safety of Slovenia and preventing illegal migration, including all possible measures permitted by the Schengen rules.
Slovenia is a determined and fully engaged Schengen country and will continue to fulfill all its commitments. We are very aware that security is an extremely important value for both Slovenia and the EU as a whole.