On 16 November 2023, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia issued an Ordinance amending the Ordinance temporarily reintroducing controls at the internal borders of the Republic of Slovenia with the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Hungary. The Ordinance will enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia.

The Government also took note of the reasons for the temporary reintroduction of border controls at the internal borders with Croatia and Hungary on 22 December 2023 for a period of six months, as provided for in Article 25 of the Schengen Borders Code. It instructed the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs to inform the European Union Member States and the European Commission of the intended temporary reintroduction of controls.

Security risks (war in Ukraine, conflicts in the Middle East and parts of Africa, organised crime and terrorism, terrorist threat in the Republic of Slovenia and the region) remain elevated. They represent a serious threat to public order and internal security, which cannot be expected to cease in the next few months. Developments in the wider region are highly dynamic and unpredictable, and information from the competent services suggests that the security situation will not change for at least another six months, during which time security measures will need to be continued. The data obtained in the period since temporary internal border controls were introduced under Article 28 of the Schengen Borders Code confirm that they constitute an important measure to ensure internal security and that it is therefore appropriate to continue them in the future.

In compliance with the principle of proportionality, the temporary border control measures at internal borders will remain targeted and focused on the prevention of terrorism, extremism and cross-border crime. Measures will continue to be carried out in such a way as to minimise the impact on travellers, the environment and the economy, and in particular on the lives of the population at the border. The Slovenian police will also keep up joint activities with the police of neighbouring countries (mixed patrols, joint controls, exchange of information, regular consultations, etc.) and will continue to pursue close cooperation.

Slovenia remains a strong supporter of the Schengen area and the right to freedom of movement. It is firmly committed to abolishing internal border controls as soon as the situation allows.