Slovenia, Austria, and Croatia’s Foreign Ministers Discuss EU Enlargement and Schengen Expansion

Ljubljana – On Thursday, Slovenia hosted the foreign ministers of Austria and Croatia, Alexander Schallenberg and Gordan Grlić-Radman. Following their discussions with Slovenian Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon, they underscored the pressing need to accelerate EU enlargement, particularly concerning the Western Balkans. They also advocated for the restoration of the Schengen Agreement, although they acknowledged that current security circumstances prevent this and emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts to combat illegal migration.

The ministers expressed their belief that expanding the EU, especially into the Western Balkans, could enhance both the security and unity of Europe. During a discussion at the Faculty of Social Sciences, they agreed that this would require the implementation of relevant reforms. “We need each other more than ever today, as we confront numerous geopolitical challenges that no single European nation can handle in isolation. Enlargement will fortify our continent,” Fajon asserted.

At a press conference following their trilateral meeting, Fajon noted, “Slovenia supports a fully functioning Schengen area; however, current security conditions do not permit the removal of controls at internal borders.” She added, “While restoring Schengen is certainly our desired goal, we currently find ourselves in a situation where security conditions preclude this. Nonetheless, I want to emphasize that our competent authorities are effectively collaborating to safeguard the external Schengen borders, particularly Croatia’s.”

Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg reiterated his concerns regarding Schengen. “Observing the current state of the Schengen area, it is evident that many countries have reintroduced internal border controls, indicating that the system is not functioning as intended,” he stated. He proposed the migration pact as a potential solution and called for its implementation.

Similarly, Croatian Minister Gordan Grlić-Radman emphasized that addressing the migration crisis necessitates coordinated action. “Tackling illegal migration requires collective efforts and the enhancement of capacities that will effectively manage migration flows,” he remarked. (28 November)