site.btaBorder Police Will Perform Their Duties Perfectly after Schengen Entry: Chief Commissioner Zlatanov

Border Police Director Chief Commissioner Anton Zlatanov said on Monday that Border Police will perform their duties perfectly after Bulgaria’s entry into Schengen. He gave a briefing at the Danube Bridge border crossing checkpoint in Ruse.

Zlatanov said he was sure that Bulgaria and Romania would be accepted into Schengen. He explained that the Bulgarian-Romanian border will remain for six months under border controls similar to those currently in place by other Schengen countries. 

According to him, border control will be done according to risk assessment. “Yesterday, based on risk assessment and on preliminary information, we seized another 40 kg of cocaine at the entrance to the country in specially concealed caches in a van. Our risk analysis will continue to work even better as we will put additional efforts," Zlatanov assured. 

He said that in the first five months of 2025, the situation will be analysed and it will be decided when exactly this control will be lifted. 

Chief Commissioner Zlatanov explained that this year Border Police have acquired new equipment. "With large financial resources from the European Union we have purchased 360 new all-terrain vehicles for the needs of Border Police. We restored the video surveillance systems along the Bulgarian-Turkish border. We are starting the completion of a 100-km stretch that is not under video surveillance," Zlatanov explained. 

The final decision on Bulgaria's entry into Schengen by land is expected to be taken on December 12.