Austria has extended the internal Schengen border controls with Czechia and Slovakia for another six months.
The six-month extension means that the internal controls with Czechia and Slovakia will remain in place until October 16, 2025, Schengen.News reports.
Border controls with the Czech Republic and Slovakia were extended for another six months on April 15, 2025.
Sharing the news, the Austrian Ministry of Interior said that the prolongation of border controls with the two member states is a necessary measure to prevent human trafficking and irregular migration, and help the authorities in dealing with the spread of foot-and-mouth disease.
Continuation of controls as a necessary measure to deter the human trafficking mafia – Assistance to health authorities in preventing the spread of foot-and-mouth disease.
Austria currently has in place internal border controls with Hungary and Slovenia, too. Controls at the border crossings with these two member states were introduced in autumn 2015 and have been consistently extended since then.
In addition to carrying out border checks at crossings with these countries, Austria has also taken action along smuggling routes. As the authorities explain, Austrian police officers are deployed in Serbia and Hungary to combat cross-border crimes.
Border Measures Have Significantly Curbed Irregular Migration, Minister Karner Says
The checks at the Austrian border are being carried out both at stationary points and by mobile forces in the border area of the country. Through this combination, the Austrian authorities claim that they are able to combat the human trafficking mafia and prevent irregular migration.
Commenting on their effectiveness, the Minister of Interior of Austria, Gerhard Karner, said that the internal border controls are essential to fight irregular migration.
The same highlighted that the country has a goal of reducing irregular migration to zero.
Border controls are and remain a decisive factor in the fight against illegal migration. The measures implemented have massively reduced illegal migration, with the goal of reducing it to zero. We must and will consistently continue on this path.
At the moment, in addition to Austria, another nine EU/Schengen countries have internal border controls in place with some or all of their neighbouring member countries. The list of EU/Schengen countries that have internal checks in place currently includes Bulgaria, GermanyDenmark, France, Italy, the NetherlandsNorway, Sweden and Slovenia.