15/04/2008 (Agence Europe) - A training exercise conducted by the members of Rapid Border Intervention Teams (RABIT) unfolded in Slovenia from 7-11 April under the aegis of the Slovenian national police in cooperation with Frontex. The exercise, in which 30 RABIT members from 20 European countries took part, focused on 160 km of the EU external border (Croatia). In 2007, Slovenia's national police dealt with 2,479 cases of unlawful crossing of the national border, which is 38.4% down compared to 2006. RABIT teams provide rapid assistance to EU member states faced with a sudden increase in illegal immigration. Frontex has a list of 600 police officers from individual member states, who are highly qualified to perform different types of border control missions. RABIT members have the same powers as the police of the host country for carrying out border control and surveillance of the national border. (B.C.)