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With more than 70%, the migration pressure on the Bulgarian borders has decreased

by AI | 26.Jun 2024 | Europe in brief AI

In Vienna, Minister Kalin Stoyanov called for innovative solutions to prevent illegal migration.

Photo: Nikolay Doychinov, AFP

SOFIA/VIENNA – Migration pressure at Bulgarian borders has decreased by over 70% in the first five months of the year compared to the same period last year. This is shown by the monthly report of the Ministry of Interior (MoI) on the migration situation in the country.

From January to May, over 16,000 people attempted to enter the country. The majority of those detained were citizens of Syria and Afghanistan, with the MoI also identifying 41 individuals from Palestine. In May, 5534 third-country nationals attempted to enter the country, which is a 73% decrease compared to the same month last year.

Cases of detained migrants attempting to illegally leave Bulgaria have increased by nearly 85%. In May, 223 migrants were detained for illegal stay within the country.

At the ministerial conference of the Salzburg Forum states in Vienna, the interim Minister of Interior Kaloyan Stoyanov called for innovative solutions to prevent illegal migration, combat migrant smuggling networks, and increase the efficiency of returns.

For the countries on the external border of the European Union (EU), the challenges are even greater, as they bears the primary responsibility for building adequate capacity and for carrying out screening and border procedures, Stoyanov said. He also emphasized the contribution that regional initiatives for enhanced cooperation can make to the security of the Schengen area.

In his speech on cooperation in countering illegal migration, the Austrian Minister of the Interior Gerhard Karner highly appreciated the cooperation with Bulgaria. He noted Bulgaria’s contribution to guarding the EU’s external borders and curbing migration movements towards Austria.

In December last year, Austria was the only EU country that did not support the complete removal of border checks at the Bulgarian and Romanian Schengen borders. On September 29, parliamentary elections will be held in the country, after which a renewed discussion on Austria’s position against the elimination of land checks at the Bulgarian and Romanian Schengen borders is expected. Bulgaria and Romania joined Schengen by air and sea on March 31. Hungary, which takes over the presidency of the EU Council from July 1, has prioritized the removal of Bulgarian and Romanian Schengen borders by the end of the year. (25.06.2024)