site.btaInterior Ministers of Bulgaria and Romania Discuss Positive Results of Joint Border Patrols

Meeting in Bucharest on Wednesday, Interior Ministers Daniel Mitov of Bulgaria and Catalin Predoiu of Romania said that the two countries will continue to coordinate their positions and speak in one voice with their European partners. The ministers expressed the view that as countries from the same region, Bulgaria and Romania face similar challenges, the Bulgarian Interior Ministry said in a press release.

"We highly appreciate the support provided in the activities of the joint contingent for the protection of the Bulgarian-Turkish border - this is a real expression of European solidarity," Mitov said. He noted that Romania has 40 officers in the contingent, who are deployed in the area of responsibility of the border police station in Elhovo (Southeastern Bulgaria). In the first month of the contingent's work, they participated in 292 patrols, during which they travelled more than 19,715 km and checked 1,115 motor vehicles and 1,459 people.

The ministers also discussed the impact of the joint patrols in the winter and seaside resorts of Bulgaria, as well as the joint patrols of the Traffic Police in the adjacent border areas of the two countries. The positive results of these patrols, which have been in operation for more than 15 years, are widely recognised and prove that bilateral police cooperation has a direct and tangible impact on citizens' daily lives, the press release said. It was added that planning for joint patrol activities during Easter and for the upcoming summer season has already begun. Specific measures will also be in place in the adjacent border areas to ensure the smooth passage of the tourist flow.