STA, February 7, 2018 - The opposition-dominated parliamentary Intelligence Oversight Commission has discussed the security situation in the country in view of an increase in illegal migration, which the commission chair said was cause for concern.
Speaking to reporters after the session on Wednesday, Branko Grims said that the information about a 80% spike in the illegal migration should make everyone worried.
Data released by the Interior Ministry yesterday show that Slovenian police apprehended 1,930 migrants for crossing the border illegally last year, a surge of 80% compared to the year before.
Grims, an MP for the Democratic Party (SDS), said that this time the "flow of migrants" along the Balkan route was not organised, but rather dispersed, and that it involved various criminal rings.
Citing information from the authorities in charge, he said that the journey from Belgrade in Serbia to Trieste in Italy cost 900 euro, "which is usually paid in drugs, which means all kinds of crime is blooming".
He noted several negative factors affecting Slovenia's security situation, including "roughly 60,000 illegal migrants" in Greece who he said were looking for possible paths heading to the EU.
The biggest concern for Slovenia in his view is the route opening toward Bosnia, which he said was picked by the most radical individuals.
He also mentioned a route opening via Serbia due to beefed-up security on the border with Bulgaria and the fence holding back migrants on the border with Hungary.
"These are the reasons why migration flows are turning increasingly in our direction," the commission chair said.
He also pointed to Austria's plans to restrict its migration policy and the upcoming general election in Italy with public opinion polls favouring right parties "which have announced major restrictions on asylum policy and deportation of everyone who doesn't meet asylum requirements".
Grims praised the Slovenian government for not removing the wire fence from the border with Croatia, as most migrants cross into the country where there is no border.
The MP also said that he had been told by the authorities that Syrian refugee Ahmad Shamieh was still in Slovenia but procedures were under way to move him to Croatia.
