The parliament passed a set of legislative amendments on June 26 that are needed to join the Schengen zone as planned on January 1, 2008, the TASR newswire reported.
One of the new measures will enable foreigners who have fallen victim to human trafficking to apply for or extend residency in Slovakia free of charge, as they are viewed as lacking the necessary finances due to their situation. Other foreigners may be exempted from administrative fees for the issue of identity cards or have these reduced for humanitarian reasons.
The amendments concern eight laws: The Law on State Service in the Police Force, the Law on Weapons and Ammunition, the Law on the Police Force, the Law on administrative Fees, the Law on Residency for Foreigners, the Law on the Protection of State Borders, the Law on European Arrest Warrants and the Criminal Code.
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
