Border control

China will reopen its borders to foreign tourists for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing all categories of visas to be issued from Wednesday, Reuters reported.

The lifting of this latest cross-border control measure imposed to protect against COVID-19 comes after authorities last month declared victory over the virus.

BRUSSELS - Serbian Interior Minister Bratislav Gasic met on Monday in Brussels with EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson to discuss implementation of an EU action plan for the Western Balkans aimed at solving joint challenges in the field of irregular migration, strengthening of border management and advancement of cooperation in readmission.

There is no change in Austria's position on Bulgaria's accession to Schengen, the Austrian Chancellor announced before his visit to Bulgaria.

Karl Nehammer and Minister of the Interior Gerhard Karner arrive in Bulgaria today. They have a meeting with President Rumen Radev, with whom they will visit the Bulgarian-Turkish border together.

The number of attempts by migrants to enter the European Union without authorization reached around 330,000 last year, the highest number since 2016, the EU's border and coast guard agency said Friday.

Parts of the Bulgarian border crossing "Kapitan Andreevo" will be declared a national security object by a decision of the Council of Ministers, which is being prepared at the moment. The news comes from the official Minister of Agriculture Yavor Gechev on bTV this morning. I.e.

Obrežje – Interior Minister Tatjana Bobnar stressed as she met her Croatian counterpart Davor Božinović in Obrežje, east, on Monday that Slovenia absolutely supports Croatia’s entry into the Schengen zone. Božinović said this is in both countries’s interest, which Bobnar confirmed.

Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania meet all the technical requirements for the Schengen area, the German chancellor said, quoted by Reuters. "I will work for these countries to become full members", added Olaf Scholz.

Metlika – Slovenian soldiers have started removing the razor wire that runs along the southern border with Croatia. The first segment of the wire was removed at a border crossing near Metlika (SE) on Friday afternoon. Amid and post the removal, security will be guaranteed in other ways, said Interior Minister Tatjana Bobnar.

Luxembourg – The EU interior ministers have reached agreement on a negotiating basis to reform the Schengen Borders Code as part of which the rules when a Schengen member state wants to reintroduce internal border controls would be tightened. Slovenian Interior Minister Tatjana Bobnar stressed at Friday’s ministerial that these checks must be temporary.

Maribor – A 47-year-old Croatian citizen has been apprehended by Slovenian police after being found smuggling four Chinese citizens unlawfully into the country in his car on Saturday.