ZAGREB, Oct 1 (Hina) - The Croatian parliament on Wednesday opened a discussion on the final text of the Law on State Border Control in conformity with the Schengen agreement.
ZAGREB, Oct 1 (Hina) - The Croatian parliament on Wednesday opened a
discussion on the final text of the Law on State Border Control in
conformity with the Schengen agreement. #L#
Under the law, one border police officer would cover one kilometre
of border area in order to ensure effective protection of the border
against illegal migrations and international crime.
This is one of the most expensive laws from the so-called European
legislation package, for whose enforcement it will be necessary to
earmark 3.3 billion kuna, or approximately 440 million euros,
mainly for training border police.
The government estimates it will have to train and employ an
additional 5,400 police officers for the new border regime.
Opposition parties criticised the government for irresponsibly
laying off more than 3,500 police officers although it knew it would
have to take on additional border police.
Deputies from the ruling coalition responded by saying that
professional rather than political criteria were observed in
carrying out the police reform. They claimed that most of the
officers dismissed from work did not have the required
qualifications for the job.
The parliament continues its session on Thursday.
(hina) vm sb