The European Parliament legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down rules on local border traffic at the external land borders of the Member States, which was passed on Tuesday, in fact re-defines the rules.
Although some of the provisions of the current Agreement between the Republic of Slovenia and the Republic of Croatia on Border Traffic and Cooperation (SOPS Agreement) are not in accordance with the Regulation, the Slovenian Minister of the Interior believes it will not need to be modified. Local border traffic permits, issued to the residents of the border area between Slovenia and Croatia in accordance with the provisions of the SOPS Agreement, will remain valid, although the Regulation stipulates the introduction of a new document, which should be produced by the member states within a reasonable period.
The key resolutions of the Regulation, which stipulate that local border traffic permits no longer require a stamp upon crossing the border, were presented at press conference by the Minister of the Interior, Dragutin Mate, and Member of the European Parliament, Miha Brejc. The Resolution also more loosely defines residents of a border area: people who have been lawfully resident in the border area for a year (the one-year period of residence being subject to lengthening/shortening). It also stipulates that the border area, defined in the SOPS Agreement as the ten-kilometre zone in each state along the length of the border, be determined as a thirty-kilometre zone, and in exceptional cases, a zone of fifty-kilometres.
The Regulation applies only to the external land borders of the EU. Croatia has already opened negotiations on accession to the EU and these are expected to be concluded by the end of this decade. Dragutin Mate, the Minister of the Interior said, ''Therefore, we will enter into discussions with the European Commission and the Croatian Government on the most appropriate time for the introduction of new local border traffic permits.''
The Member of the European Parliament, Miha Brejc, emphasised that by passing the Regulation the EU does not intend to close its borders, create unbearable conditions along the external land borders of the European Union, or worsen the living conditions of the local residents. He also stressed that the Regulation was an important element in providing stability and security within the EU. The Regulation is expected to come into force by the end of this year or the beginning of 2007.
The Regulation was passed by a large majority, which, according to Mr Brejc showed that, despite being a small member, Slovenia can promote its interests in the European Parliament.
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