Slovakia Drafts Police Cooperation Deal with Czech Republic

Bratislava, July 8 (TASR) – Slovakia's Interior Ministry has drafted a bilateral agreement on police cooperation with the Czech Republic aimed at strengthening efforts to combat serious crime, with the proposal being submitted for interdepartmental review, TASR learnt on Tuesday. The ministry argues that organised criminal groups are using increasingly sophisticated methods to carry out illegal activities across the border. "Only mutual cooperation between states can effectively improve the fight against organised crime. In an area of freedom, security and justice — where there are no internal border controls — strong police and judicial cooperation between EU-member states are essential to ensure a high level of security," the ministry stated. The ministry also warned that criminal organisations use illegal profits to infiltrate the legal economy and public institutions, often through corruption, thereby undermining the rule of law and citizens' fundamental rights. The proposed international agreement will require approval by both the Slovak government and Parliament. mf/df