Fiala: Checks on border with Slovakia working and helping tackle illegal migrant route

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said on Wednesday that the border controls with Slovakia, which were reinstated in reaction to a new route for illegal migrants, are working. This follows Slovak Prime Minister Eduard Heger’s earlier statement that the current situation on the Czech side of the border with his country cannot continue. Mr Heger argues that the border checks are interfering with the Schengen Area free movement rules.

Czechia introduced the border controls with Slovakia at the end of September and, according to Mr Fiala, have weakened the migration route. He also said that the Czech crackdown has led to other states paying increased attention to the migrant route issue.

The two heads of government will meet on Thursday evening. Czechia’s Interior Minister Vít Rakušan said on Wednesday that he doesn’t expect the meeting will lead to an immediate end to the ongoing border checks.