Austrian and Czech ministers mark 20 years of police cooperation

Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner and Czech Interior Minister Lubomír Metnar met to mark the 20th anniversary of the Police Cooperation Center (PKZ) in Drasenhofen. Both officials emphasized the necessity of strengthening the protection of both the external and internal borders of the European Union.

The ministers highlighted the center's role in combating illegal migration and human smuggling through rapid information exchange and joint patrols. Since its establishment in 2006, the center has processed approximately 60,000 inquiries and conducted 125,000 data verifications. In 2026 alone, the facility has handled over 1,200 inquiries and 2,500 data comparisons.

Currently staffed by 12 Austrian and 9 Czech officers, the center facilitates the exchange of information regarding suspects, seized goods, and criminal investigations. The cooperation includes regular bilateral patrols and specialized micro-teams for criminal police exchange. The officials noted that while border controls were reintroduced in 2023 to curb illegal migration, the focus remains on flexible controls designed to disrupt criminal networks without disrupting daily commuters.