Austria and Slovenia Ministers Debate Schengen Enlargement
Interior Minister Dragutin Mate and his Austrian counterpart Guenther Platter stressed the importance of implementing Schengen standards in Western Balkan countries following talks with in Brdo pri Kranju on Monday.
"We are discussing ways of...providing help to Western Balkan countries because in order to guarantee security at home we have to help in attaining security and stability in these countries," said Mate.
Plater, who was on a one-day visit to Slovenia, said that the expansion of the Schengen no-border zone presented a great opportunity, but only if adequate security concepts were in place.
Platter added that enlargement would increase security as well as bring opportunities to all EU citizens as the internal border checkpoints get abolished.
Mate also expressed confidence over Slovenia meeting the Schengen standards, while Platter congratulated the country for its efforts in meeting these standards.
Slovenia expects to join the Schengen zone by the end of the year.
Mate said that Slovenia wanted to join the Pruem Treaty, a document signed by seven EU member states in a bid to enhance cross-border cooperation in the combat against terrorism, cross-border crime and illegal migration.
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