site.btaInterior Minister Participates in Meeting of Justice and Home Affairs Council in Stockholm

The caretaker Deputy Prime Minister for Public Order and Security and Minister of Interior Ivan Demerdzhiev and Deputy Interior Minister Monika Dimitrova-Beecher participated in the informal meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council in Stockholm on Wednesday and Thursday, the Ministry of Interior reported. Bulgaria took part in the interior ministers' discussion on the implementation of a comprehensive institutional approach to address migration challenges and presented good national practices in migration policy coordination.

The forum, held within the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU, focused on enhancing the effectiveness of EU policies in returning illegal migrants and implementing appropriate measures in the fight against organized crime in the digital age.

Demerdzhiev noted that return is a key tool in the fight against illegal migration. He supported the use of all available levers of influence and the need for a unified EU approach. The Minister highlighted the role of the EU Return Coordinator and the support of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, aka Frontex.

On the other leading topic, the fight against organized crime in the digital age, Demerdzhiev highlighted the importance of adequate response by the law enforcement community to the rapidly evolving security threats stemming from technological developments. Bulgaria supported continued efforts to find a workable solution that ensures the right balance between protecting privacy and ensuring public order and security.

During the forum, Demerdzhiev held a series of bilateral meetings with the Swedish Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer, the Dutch Migration Minister Eric van der Burg, as well as with the interior ministers of Croatia, Romania, and Italy. The focus of the talks was cooperation for Bulgaria's accession to the Schengen area, which remains a priority for Bulgaria.

The Bulgarian delegation also drew attention to the need for a unified EU approach in securing the EU's external borders and the importance of pooling efforts to counter criminal networks for migrant trafficking.