The unprecedented migrant pressure towards Bulgaria has increased by 30% since the beginning of the year. However, a very small number of attempts for illegal entry are successful, caretaker Minister of Interior Ivan Demerdzhiev said in Stara Zagora. In 2022, the Bulgarian authorities prevented 190,000 people from illegally crossing the border with Turkey, Demerdzhiev added and pointed out that more and more foreigners are involved in migrant trafficking for money. He called on the new parliament to adopt changes to the Penal Code to deter illegal migration.

Demerdzhiev said that negotiations for the technical equipment needed for 110 km of border continue as 141 million euros have already been allocated by the EU for this.