Minister Says Schengen Will Not Hinder Life in Border Areas
The government will make an effort to facilitate crossing the border with Croatia for the local population, alongside their main tasks, protecting the Schengen border in line with EU standards, Interior Minister Dragutin Mate said on Wednesday at a panel hosted in the border town of Podcetrtek.
Discussing the introduction of the Schengen border regime, scheduled for the end of this year, Mate said that it will primarily affect citizens and the economy.
The introduction of the border is the third major event after Slovenia's accession to the EU and the euro changeover, said Mate at the panel held as part of his visit to regions expected to be hit the worst by the introduction of the border.
According to Mate, the process will involve certain difficulties, as Slovenia has never had a clearly defined border with Croatia. This will not be welcomed by the people living next to the border, as neighbours will be now separated by a de facto border, said Mate.
The minister believes that the introduction of the Schengen regime on the southern border will not bring significant changes for Slovenians.
Participants of the panel were concerned that the Schengen border would hamper the economy of the region, as Podcetrtek is a tourist area. Mate promised that police and customs checks would not be too strict on border crossings in tourist areas.
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