Author
Although national legislation at the moment does not foresee a preliminary screening procedure, the Ordinance on the Treatment of Third-Country Nationals prescribes that a third-country national found at an external border during or immediately after an irregular entry shall be issued a Notification Form on Procedures at the External Border, which must be signed by both the third-country national and a police officer.[1] If the individual does not possess identity documents, or if there are doubts regarding their identity, they are required to complete a Personal Data Declaration Form in written format.[2] In cases where the person is identified as vulnerable or suffering from a serious health condition, appropriate protection and assistance measures are to be undertaken.[3]
The Notification Form informs the person of their return to the country from which they irregularly entered Croatia, and includes a clear instruction to immediately inform the police officer if they are:an unaccompanied child, a person with a disability, an elderly person, a pregnant woman, a single parent with one or more minor children, a victim of human trafficking, a survivor of torture, rape, female genital mutilation, or another form of psychological, physical, or sexual violence, or a person with mental health issues. Additionally, the form instructs the individual to inform the police officer if they suffer from a serious health condition, or if they fear return to their country of origin due to a risk of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion, or due to the risk of torture, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.[4]
[1] Article 33 (2) Ordinance on the Treatment of Third-Country Nationals.
[2] Article 33 (5) Ordinance on the Treatment of Third-Country Nationals.
[3] Article 33 (6) Ordinance on the Treatment of Third-Country Nationals.
[4] Form 12, Ordinance on the Treatment of Third-Country Nationals.