Minister Blanar Visits Frontex Headquarters in Warsaw

Warsaw, March 14 (TASR) - Foreign Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) visited the Warsaw headquarters of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) as part of his visit to Poland on Thursday (March 13), the Foreign Affairs Ministry's communications department has informed TASR. Blanar and Frontex Deputy Executive Officer Aija Kalnaja discussed the challenges of illegal migration and possibilities for cooperation regarding solutions at the level of the European Union and individual member states. The European Union's biggest agency supports countries in managing the EU's external borders and fighting cross-border crime. "Even in countries where it was unthinkable in the past, they now agree with us, admitting that it's a big problem. This is partly evidenced by the checks introduced on the EU's internal borders, which violate the basic principle of free movement within Schengen. This is one of the important benefits that the Union brings to the lives of our citizens," stated the minister. Blanar and Kalnaja concurred that illegal migration isn't a problem that arises at EU borders, but far beyond them. "Slovakia has been saying consistently and for a long time that the Migration Pact is not a solution in this regard. In addition to protecting Schengen borders, a consistent return policy and other measures, there's also need to focus on third countries and direct attention and aid to this area," added Blanar. Slovakia actively participates in Frontex's operational activities, sending its police officers to support joint operations. Slovakia's priority in 2024 was the Balkan region - Serbia, Romania and Greece. Blanar also held talks in Warsaw with his Polish counterpart Radoslaw Sikorski and the Polish Sejm's foreign affairs committee chair and Government Proxy for the Reconstruction of Ukraine Pawel Kowal. In addition to Frontex headquarters, he also visited the Warsaw Uprising Museum and met representatives of the Slovak expat community at the Slovak Embassy in Poland. ko/df