Frontex praises Bulgaria"s border police efforts in safeguarding Europe

In Sofia, the Executive Director of Frontex, Hans Leijtens, praised the Bulgarian border police for their significant efforts in managing the pan-European borders. During his visit, he highlighted that the capacity of Frontex personnel stationed at the Bulgarian-Turkish border has tripled, indicating a robust response to migratory challenges. Despite this increase, Leijtens acknowledged that future difficulties may still arise, emphasizing the importance of continued collaboration between Frontex and Bulgarian authorities. Anton Zlatanov, the Director of the General Directorate 'Border Police', reported a notable decrease in migratory pressure, which has dropped by 70%. This reduction is attributed to enhanced border security measures and the increased presence of Frontex teams, which are expected to remain until at least the end of the year. The decision to extend their mission will be reviewed every three months, ensuring ongoing support. Recent statistics from the Bulgarian Ministry of the Interior revealed a significant rise in the number of detained migrants, with figures nearly doubling from June to July 2024. In July, 1,004 third-country nationals were apprehended, compared to 557 in June. This surge in detentions coincides with a reported increase in investigations related to human trafficking, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by Bulgarian authorities. Bulgaria and Romania's accession to the Schengen Area by air and sea on March 31 has been a pivotal development, with Hungary prioritizing the removal of border checks for both countries by year-end. However, Austria remains hesitant, and discussions regarding its position are anticipated following the upcoming parliamentary elections on September 29.