In the first nine months of this year, Slovenia registered 8,144 illegal entries, which is 39% less than in the same period of 2020, the country's Interior Ministry reported on Wednesday.

The majority of the illegal migrants were Afghans, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis, accounting for more than half of the total number of all migrants. There were significantly fewer Syrians and there was also a sudden drop in the number of Pakistani and Moroccan nationals.

The number of illegal migrants who after being arrested seek international protection in Slovenia has increased over the past few months, particularly among Afghan citizens while those from Pakistan, even if they do apply for asylum, usually continue their journey from Slovenia towards their desired destinations in central or northern Europe, Slovenia’s police reported.

Last week in Sarajevo, Slovenia’s Interior Minister Ales Hojs advocated for strengthening regional cooperation and partnership in migration management.

Even though the Western Balkans is still not part of the EU, there are areas like security and migration where it is considered as already being involved in our joint efforts, Hojs said during his visit to Sarajevo.

Hojs is a member of the Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS), led by Prime Minister Janez Jansa, and is known for its strong position that the EU must not allow the migrant situation of 2015/2016, when more than half a million refugees and migrants passed through Slovenia on to the centre of the EU, to happen again.