Bulgaria guards European borders extremely well and successfully. Compared to 2024, attempts to illegally cross the Bulgarian-Turkish border have decreased by over 75%. We practically do not have a flow that poses a threat to European security from illegal migration. This was stated by Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov in Copenhagen, where he is participating in the European Political Community Meeting today.
The Prime Minister focused specifically on efforts to counter the smugglers. Their activities, on the one hand, are a provocation to security and stability in Europe, and on the other hand, they are a crime, Zhelyazkov pointed out.
The Prime Minister pointed out the great importance of partnership and joint actions to protect the border with countries such as Austria, Romania, Greece, and others. Prime Minister Zhelyazkov also noted the role of regulatory regulation, especially in the field of return and readmission, as well as in the implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum.
Our efforts are to return illegal migrants to their countries of origin, the Prime Minister pointed out. Zhelyazkov noted that it is precisely these policies that Bulgaria has advocated over the years that meet with understanding from many of the member states. The security of Europe depends not only on protecting the borders with physical force, with techniques and technologies in which we invest a lot, including through European sources, but also on the right policies that would cut off all attempts at illegal migration to the continent, the Prime Minister also stated.