At its extraordinary session on Tuesday, the government approved the setting up of a 300-member foreign police unit which will specially serve to protect the Schengen zone's external borders. The proposal, aimed at strengthening the Slovak Police Corps and the Interior Ministry, was submitted by Interior Minister Robert Kaliňák. "If there's a need to mobilise such a unit abroad, we'll be capable of providing 300 police officers and equipment within 24 hours", said Prime Minister Robert Fico after the session. The 300 officers are predominantly skilled members of the border or foreign police. "Setting up a new foreign police unit for border patrols has also been facilitated by demands from Frontex", said Kaliňák, adding that the officers will be trained in Slovakia. The officers concerned will be replaced by 300 new recruits. An additional 20 police officers will be assigned to the Constitutional Authorities and Diplomatic Missions Protection Office, while 20 extra posts will be added to the Slovak Migration Office. The former office is being strengthened due to the need to provide security for the new building of Slovakia's Permanent Representation to Brussels. The strengthening of the latter office includes the appointment of liaison officers for Italy and Greece and the provision of experts based on calls from the European Asylum Support Office and Frontex. These measures require a total increase in the Interior Ministry's budget of almost €8 million.

Gavin Shoebridge, Photo: TASR