Austria's anti-illegal migrations drill "provocative"

A major exercise carried out by Austria's police and army along the Slovenian border has been described as "somewhat provocative."

Slovenia's outgoing Prime Minister Miro Cerar said this on Tuesday, as the exercise went ahead despite Slovenia's objections.

The Pro Borders drill saw Austrian police and army demonstrate emergency measures aimed at preventing illegal migrations.

Cerar told reporters after a meeting with heads of parliamentary parties dedicated to a recent EU mini-summit on migrations that Slovenia is protecting Schengen's external borders adequately. Therefore, he added the Austrian exercise is unnecessary, STA agency reported. "We consider it even somewhat provocative," Cerar said.

He added that the exercise could be justified only if there was an increase in the number of migrants, but that this is not the case, while "there is no noticeable influx of illegal migrants from Slovenia to Austria."

Slovenia advocates strengthening control at the EU's external borders, while it also strives to protect the Schengen area, which is why Austrian border control is not justified, Cerar concluded.