The holes in a Slovenian Schengen border

According to Franco Frattini, Vice President of the European Commission, Slovenia is the only new EU member state that fulfils the criteria for becoming part of the Schengen zone. However, in his commentary on these remarks made by Frattini before the European Parliament, Novica Mihajlovic points out that there is still disagreement between Slovenia and Croatia regarding where exactly a section of the border between the two countries lies. "There's no doubt Mr. Frattini knows what he's talking about and that Slovenia fulfils the European Union's bureaucratic criteria. However, I wonder whether he is aware how full of holes the border he wants to hand over to his model pupil is... Non-intervention in bilateral disputes between member states is one of the mainstays of EU policy. However, if Europe hands over control of a section of its outer border to Slovenia before the latter has defined its border with Croatia it would be like putting its security in the hands of a blind customs officer."

» full article (external link, Slovenian)
More from the press review on the subject » EU enlargement, » EU Policy, » Slovenia

» To the complete press review of Monday, October 30, 2006