Czech Republic and Poland tighten control on border with Slovakia due to flow of migrants

Starting October 4, Poland and the Czech Republic will introduce enhanced control, which will last for 10 days, on the border with Slovakia to curb the flow of illegal migration and smugglers.

Reuters reported that the Czech Republic and Poland took joint measures to introduce checks on their borders with Slovakia to curb the flow of illegal migration and smugglers.

The enhanced controls will begin on Wednesday and last for 10 days, with the possibility of an extension.

“This is a measure necessary to combat smuggling groups and illegal migration effectively,” Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakuzan said on social media site X.

According to him, the checks will be selective along the border and aim to limit the impact on cross-border traffic.

The Slovak government criticized the move and said it would react to it at a meeting on Wednesday, and Slovak Prime Minister Ludovic Odor said the issue needed a European solution.

On Tuesday, Poland’s Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski said that the country is facing a surge in illegal migration and detentions.

Polish Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski said Poland has been facing a jump in illegal migration. “In recent weeks, we detected and detained 551 illegal migrants at the border with Slovakia. This situation causes us to take decisive action,” Mariusz Kaminski said.

Slovakia’s government said it would react to the Czech and Polish moves. Slovak caretaker Prime Minister Ludovit Odor said the issue needed a solution on the European level.

Slovakia has faced a rising number of illegal migrants crossing as they head to Germany and other nations in Western Europe. The migrants, predominantly young men from the Middle East and Afghanistan, mostly came via the so-called Balkan route through Hungary from Serbia.

On September 28, German Interior Minister Nancy Feser introduced additional controls on the borders with Poland and the Czech Republic to combat illegal migration. The decision on inspections has already come into force.