Strengthening Protection at the Bulgaria-Turkey Border
A joint contingent from Bulgaria, Austria, Romania, and Hungary has officially commenced operations to secure the Bulgaria-Turkey border. The agreement establishing this multinational border police unit was signed on Monday in Svilengrad by the heads of Border Police from Bulgaria and Romania, Anton Zlatanov and Cornel-Laurian Stoica, alongside Hungary’s National Police representative Janos Balogh and Austria’s Director General for Public Security, Franz Ruf.
The newly formed unit will consist of 120 officers.
Regional Commitment to Border Security
Hungarian Interior Minister Sandor Pinter emphasized the importance of external border security, stating:
“If we cannot protect our external borders, we will not be able to protect our internal borders either.”
He reaffirmed Hungary’s commitment to defending the Schengen Area and praised Romania and Bulgaria’s inclusion in the land-based Schengen zone.
Romanian Interior Minister Cătălin Predoiu described the formation of the joint contingent as a critical security measure, adding:
“Organized migration is a global phenomenon and a major business that destabilizes countries. Along with migrant flows, we also see increased drug and arms trafficking.”
Predoiu also called for increased EU funding and the expansion of Frontex, as well as investments in border technology and equipment.
Austria’s Firm Stance Against Illegal Migration
Franz Ruf, Austria’s Director General for Public Security, highlighted Vienna’s longstanding efforts in border security, stating:
“Our national and international efforts show that Austria remains firmly committed to combating illegal migration and human trafficking.”
He welcomed the memorandum of cooperation as a significant step in Austrian-Bulgarian security collaboration, noting that Austrian officers deployed to the mission are highly trained and have extensive international experience.
Bulgaria’s Lead Role in Border Protection
Following the official signing, Bulgaria’s Border Police Chief Commissioner Anton Zlatanov confirmed that the primary responsibility for securing the Bulgaria-Turkey border remains with Bulgaria’s Border Police and military, which currently operate with 1,500–1,600 border guards and hundreds of military personnel.
Bulgarian Interior Minister Daniel Mitov stressed that safeguarding the EU’s external borders should not be the sole responsibility of frontline states. The new unit, he noted, will enhance Bulgaria’s border security efforts while cooperation with Turkey has led to a sustained decrease in migration pressure on Bulgaria.
