SLOVAKIA will assist Croatia in preparing its borders before it joins the Schengen area.
The interior ministers of both countries confirmed this at their March 4 meeting in Bratislava after they signed an agreement on mutual support in the area of Schengen cooperation.
"We're pleased that Slovakia can be involved in building the Croatian Schengen border,” Slovak Interior Minister Robert Kaliňák said, as quoted by the TASR newswire, explaining that a very important part of the agreement is the transfer of a sub-licence for the Schengen Information System.
Slovakia will provide Croatia with information concerning, for example, the protection of the green border and checks at border crossing points, Kaliňák specified.
Croatian Interior Minister Ranko Ostojic said Croatia wants to be ready to join the Schengen area as early as July 1, 2015 - two years after the country became a member of the European Union.
"Our plan is to prepare the capacity of the border police and fully equip the Schengen border," said Ostojic, as quoted by TASR.
An evaluation of the country’s preparedness will follow. The final decision as to when Croatia will become part of the Schengen area is up to the EU-member states.
"We have enormous interest in joining the Schengen zone, and we want to demonstrate that we're able to come within the Schengen border," said Ostojic.
Source: TASR
Compiled by Michaela Terenzani from press reports.
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information
presented in its Flash News postings.
