Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner held working talks with his Estonian counterpart, Igor Taro, focusing on ways to strengthen the protection of the European Union’s external borders, counter hybrid threats, and address disinformation campaigns.
The visit included a joint inspection tour by the two ministers of the Estonian-Russian border in the border city of Narva. Karner was briefed on the physical barriers and modern electronic surveillance systems deployed by Estonia to secure its border with Russia, most of which runs along waterways for approximately 294 kilometers.
During the talks, the Austrian minister stressed the strategic importance of securing the EU’s eastern borders, noting that Estonia’s extensive measures
represent a practical implementation of the European Union’s new Pact on Migration and Asylum.
The two sides also emphasized the need to strengthen coordination in confronting so-called “gray-zone” pressure tactics, particularly the exploitation of migration flows for political purposes and disinformation campaigns. They also discussed efforts to address security disruptions in the airspace and navigation networks, including interference with the Global Positioning System (GPS).