State Secretary Štucin expressed his satisfaction with the close cooperation between Slovenia and Styria in the fields of economy and culture and stressed the importance of strengthening cross-border links and people-to-people contacts.

Slovenia and Styria have worked together within the framework of the Slovenia-Styria Joint Committee since 2014. State Secretary Štucin invited Governor Drexler to the next meeting of the Committee, which is to take place in Slovenia early next year.

They both agreed on the importance of close economic ties. Styria is one of Slovenia’s largest regional partners and accounts for almost a quarter of Slovenia’s total trade with Austria. State Secretary Štucin called for closer cooperation between Slovenian and Styrian companies. Governor Drexler confirmed the interest in further cooperation, especially with the Port of Koper, which is the central port for Styria. State Secretary Štucin also mentioned the large number of migrant workers who commute to work in Styria every day, which further strengthens cross-border economic ties.

State Secretary Štucin went on to point out the situation and role of the Slovenian minority in Austria, whose members also live in Styria. The interlocutors discussed cooperation, especially in culture, and about possibilities of establishing a Slovenian house in Graz.

State Secretary Štucin and Governor Drexler also exchanged views on migration and the introduction of internal border controls. The State Secretary presented Slovenia's reasons for the temporary reintroduction of border controls at the borders with Croatia and Hungary, while stressing that Slovenia remains a staunch supporter of open borders in the EU and the freedom of movement within the Schengen area. In this context, the interlocutors reaffirmed the historic importance of the establishment of the Schengen area and agreed that a fully functioning Schengen regime is a matter of common interest. State Secretary Štucin later presented Slovenia's activities with the Western Balkan countries in the field of migration management and called for the presence of EU agencies on the ground.