Austria to extend border controls with four neighbouring states

Austria will extend its border controls with the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia for a further six months, Interior Minister Gerhard Karner has announced.

The previous extension was set to expire on December 15, Caliber.Az reports via Polish media.

Under Austria’s new border security strategy, checks will not only be conducted at the borders themselves but also deeper within the border regions, aiming to enhance both efficiency and flexibility, Karner said.

Austria reintroduced controls on its border with the Czech Republic in October 2023, following a similar move by Germany, citing the need to prevent the immediate rerouting of smuggling networks.

Earlier, the Czech Republic had urged Germany to lift its checks along their shared border.

By Aghakazim Guliyev