Prague, April 12 (CTK) – The European Union and NATO should prepare for a possible change of migration routes to Europe, Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka (Social Democrats, CSSD) told journalists after a working lunch with Austrian President Heinz Fischer yesterday.
He said sea patrolling between Italy and Libya should be more intensive, the EU should be ready to reinforce the Frontex agency there and a NATO operation might be an option as well.
Sobotka said the EU-Turkey deal on migration seemed to have markedly inhibited the flow of refugees from Turkey to Greece. This is good news, but it is of course likely that other migration routes can appear, he added.
Sobotka said he can understand the steps Austria takes along its border with Italy.
On Monday, the Austrian authorities began preparatory works for the fencing of the Brenner Pass, which is a key transport hub through the Alps between Italy and Austria. Austria plans to introduce stricter border controls in the pass by June.
Apart from migration, Sobotka and Fischer talked about bilateral affairs, including cooperating between the neighbouring Austrian and Czech regions, transport infrastructure and mutual trade.
