site.btaMinisters from Bulgaria, Greece, Turkiye Discuss Measures to Tackle Illegal Migration

A trilateral ministerial meeting on countering illegal migration took place here on Tuesday, Bulgaria's Interior Ministry reported. The meeting was attended by Bulgaria's Minister of Interior Daniel Mitov, Greece's Minister of Migration and Asylum Mavroudis Voridis, and Turkiye's Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya.

This is the second trilateral ministerial meeting after the first took place in Istanbul on January 14, 2025.

The forum discussed the impact of migration, recent challenges related to irregular migration, the need to further strengthen efforts to respond more effectively to criminal networks. The three ministers stressed the importance of border management, prevention of irregular migration, partnership with countries of origin along the route and effective return policies for irregular migrants. Strengthening operational cooperation as well as timely exchange of information were identified as key factors.

Voridis expressed satisfaction with the level of trilateral cooperation, which has led to real results at land and maritime borders. He briefed the other two ministers on the challenges facing Greece in terms of illegal arrivals and emphasized the determination of the Greek government to continue the fight against criminal smuggling networks. He shared the Greek government's intention to pursue a more restrictive policy on migration and to establish an effective system, both in Greece and in the EU, to return migrants to their countries of origin.

Yerlikaya highlighted the measures and cooperation steps taken in the context of the fight against irregular migration, emphasizing the great success achieved in this regard. Yerlikaya said that thanks to the cessation of illegal migration, Turkey has ceased to be perceived as a destination and transit country for illegal migration flows. He said that the trilateral mechanism between Turkiye, Greece and Bulgaria has also contributed significantly to this. He added that cooperation between the three countries should be deepened in the fight against terrorist and organized crime groups, as well as in relation to irregular migration.

Bulgaria, Greece and Turkiye share a common understanding that migration can only be effectively managed through open dialogue and coordinated efforts, and in a way that guarantees national and regional security. The ministers agreed that meetings in this format should continue, as they provide an incentive to further strengthen professional cooperation and contribute overall to the security of Bulgaria, Greece and Turkiye.

Earlier Tuesday, Mitov and Yerlikaya discussed illegal migration and travel of Turkish citizens through Bulgaria.