site.btaInterior Minister Stoyanov Briefs Municipalities Association on Illegal Migration

Outgoing Interior Minister Kalin Stoyanov participated in a meeting of the Board of the National Association of the Municipalities in Republic of Bulgaria, Stoyanov's Ministry reported here on Thursday. Stoyanov briefed the meeting on his Ministry's priorities - the effective counteraction of illegal migration and measures aimed at better road safety.

Stoyanov confirmed a serious and sustained decline in migration pressure and listed the steps taken to achieve this – increasing the number of officers at the border, intensifying operational work and having active dialogue with the Turkish side. The Ministry also works to return illegal migrants to their countries of origin.

The Minister highlighted the steps taken regarding the initiative of the Ministry of Interior to amend the Administration Act, which will open the possibility of recruiting another 1,264 border police officers, which should cover the entire state border. "This way, we will stop the practice of posting officers from the interior of the country, and they [officers living in settlements near the border] will be able to carry out their responsibilities in the territory where they work," Stoyanov said.

Stoyanov said that police presence will be increased around the accommodation centres run by the State Agency for Refugees. He added that the Interior Ministry found many security lapses in the centres in recent months and has issued recommendations. He was hopeful that some 260 police officers can be allocated to take over the security of the accommodation centres.