site.bta70% Drop in Migrant Pressure for Two Consecutive Years - Border Police Chief

Speaking to reporters here on Friday, Chief Commissioner Anton Zlatanov, head of the Border Police General Directorate, said that there has been a 70% decrease in migrant pressure for two consecutive years. He noted that 2023 was the most challenging year for Bulgaria in terms of migration pressure due to the large number of passing migrants which was also felt by other European countries.

"We are a secure external border of the European Union, and we are becoming increasingly secure," Zlatanov said. In his words, the current focus is on dismantling criminal groups involved in smuggling and on strengthening both the first and second lines of the border. "Our main goal for this year and next is to prevent the flow of migrants from shifting to the Greek border," he said.

These are global processes and achieving zero migration is impossible. At present, levels are satisfactory. This is the result of hard work. "We are striving to maintain and improve them," he said.

Addressing concerns that Bulgaria's accession into the Schengen area would make border protection more difficult, particularly regarding criminal activity and the unlawful removal of children, Zlatanov said there are no "striking cases" and expressed satisfaction with the risk analysis process. "Bear in mind that when criminal operations have considerable resources, they succeed regardless of the existing controls," the Chief Commissioner added.