Situation at Slovenia-Croatia border crossings improves

Tension of long tailbacks of traffic at both sides of Slovenian-Croatian border crossings appeared eased as the implementation of the European Union (EU) border directive has been suspended.

According to the Slovenian Press Agency (STA), about one-hour waiting time is currently reported only at the Slovenian Obrezje border crossing with Croatia, compared to the three to four hours in the past few days.

Buses now have to wait two hours to exit Slovenia at Obrezje, while a one-hour waiting time is being reported entering the country. Cars have to wait one hour to enter or exit the country, the STA report said quoting data from the Slovenian National Traffic Information Centre.

The traffic tension was formed last Friday after the EU-decreed tighter controls was introduced on the Slovenia-Croatia border crossings.

The Slovenian and Croatian police stopped checking all passengers in line with the decree tightening controls on the EU's external borders on Friday evening after long lines of traffic were formed on both sides of the border.

Slovenian Prime Minister Miro Cerar tweeted late Saturday night that he had discussed the issue with his Croatian counterpart on the phone. They both agreed that the situation on the borders was intolerable and that immediate changes were needed.

Subsequently, European Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, Dimitris Avramapoulos, temporarily suspended the implementation of the decree on the Croatian borders with Slovenia and Hungary, the Croatian police said Saturday night.

The police are therefore checking only passengers from third countries while EU citizens are checked occasionally, according to the STA.

Slovenian Interior Ministry State Secretary Bostjan Sefic told local media Saturday night that Slovenia would brief the Commission on the situation next week. Security measures are needed, but they need to be made more bearable, he said. Endit