Brussels, 02/02/2007 (Agence Europe) - Ahead of its likely accession to the Schengen area in 2008, Slovakia has reinforced its border with Ukraine. “We gave our word that we would be ready to join the Schengen area in 2008,” Slovakian Secretary of State Jozef Bucek said at the end of January, according to AFP. The 100-kilometre long Slovakia-Ukraine section of the border is very difficult for police to patrol, given its mountainous and wooded terrain. To counter illegal immigrants and their smugglers, 650 border guards patrol the border night and day. This number is due to increase to 700 by June and to 900 before the end of 2008, according to the interior minister. Slovakian authorities also plan to deploy an expensive electronic surveillance network, including cameras, heat and movement detectors. The €29 million contract was awarded to Ericsson, which provided similar equipment of the equally sensitive Norway-Russia border in 2003. The EU is also providing a total of €52 million from the Schengen fund to help Slovakia. The security of the border, a sine qua non of Slovakia's accession to the Schengen area, will be checked in June by European inspectors. Preparations are behind schedule: the experts are still finalising the plans for the electronic surveillance network, when the installation should have been completed. At least five more months will be needed to install the equipment, complete the building which will house the electronic exchange in the little village of Sobrance, bring the five border posts up to Schengen traffic standards and also improve cooperation between police and customs officers. To show the improvements made in control, Bratislava notes that the number of illegal immigrants caught at the border has fallen dramatically over the last three years: in 2003, one year before Slovakia joined the EU, of the total of 6,390 illegal immigrants stopped by police, 5,470 were at the border, and in 2006, the figure was 2,300 out of 2,550. In the meantime, on the Ukrainian side around 600 illegal immigrants and asylum seekers (Afghans, Sri Lankans, Chinese, Iraqis, Nepalese and others) are being held in the Pavchenko centre while their fate is decided. (bc)