The host of the event, Trieste Police Chief Pietro Ostuni, thanked for the cooperation so far and noted that such successful cooperation should be further developed for the benefit of citizens. Istria Police Chief Alen Klabot and Primorje-Gorski Kotar Police Chief Hari Brnad agreed with him, as did the representatives of the Slovenian police, led by the head of the Koper Police Department Alenka Korošec Peruzin.
Every year, for more than three decades, it has been customary for representatives of the police forces of the neighbouring countries, who cooperate on an operational level every day throughout the year, to meet in person and at the highest level. As everyone agreed, cooperation is at a high level in terms of protecting the state border and combating illegal migration, as well as in terms of combating all other forms of crime.
"The perpetrators who smuggle migrants are organised and there are no borders for them, and our response to that is cooperation at the international level. Because only together can we successfully respond to this problem - through organised police cooperation," said Klabot.
Although the Slovenian and Italian police reintroduced temporary border checks a little over a year ago, given the situation in the Middle East and Ukraine and the threat to public order and internal security in the European Union and the prevention of terrorism, I am pleased to say that unhindered flow across the border has been ensured, especially in our border area and during the summer months, he said.
He added that the Croatian police on its side of the border were also taking measures to prevent illegal migration and combat cross-border crime by implementing compensatory measures in the territory and directly along the border.
"We currently have very good results, even better than when we were stationed at border crossings. The mobility of police officers and the dynamism of police patrols allow us to better cover the area and capture a larger number of people," he said.
Times are changing and bring us new security challenges, he said, but the Croatian police have already shown countless times that they can cope with them. Crime knows no borders, and that is why we will continue to work together to prevent it and take care of the safety of the citizens of Croatia, Slovenia and Italy, but also of the entire European Union, said Klabot.