Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Attempts to illegally enter Bulgaria have increased by 40%

Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev
Photo: BGNES

The migrant pressure on Bulgaria since the beginning of the year has increased by 40% compared to the same period last year, Caretaker Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev announced to BNR. 

He added that 2022 was a record year – with three times the pressure of previous years. On this occasion, the implementation of a joint project with the European Commission will begin in a few weeks. 

"It is about the technical securing of 110 km, which have not been secured in any way within 10 years of pressure. It refers to the return of the Border Police staff, which were reduced by 2,000 people during these 10 years, while the migrant pressure has been increasing", explained the minister. 

Ivan Demerdzhiev again called for legislative changes so that the migrant smugglers could receive heavier sentences, which, he said, now last 5 months at best. 

He also said that the first signals of attempts to buy votes for the upcoming parliamentary elections on April 2 have already been received.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

National Statistical Institute: Bulgarians aged 25 to 44 travel most

One million and eight hundred Bulgarian citizens travelled as tourists during the third quarter of the year, National Statistical Institute data show. 72.3% of them travelled inside the country, 20.8% travelled abroad and 6.9% - both inside Bulgaria..

published on 11/22/24 12:09 PM
Rumen Radev at the business forum in Singapore

Rumen Radev in Singapore: Investing in people and partnership are the key to the future

“Investing in people, education, innovations and technologies is the key to success in the future,” said President Rumen Radev at the opening of the business forum in Singapore, in which representatives of companies from Bulgaria and Singapore are..

published on 11/22/24 10:17 AM
European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson

European Commissioner Ylva Johansson is optimistic about Bulgaria and Romania’s entering the Schengen Area by land soon

“It’s time to lift internal border controls now,” European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson believes. In an interview with RFE/RL she said she was optimistic about Austria’s decision. Asked what the arguments are for blocking the..

published on 11/22/24 9:45 AM