site.btaCountering Migrant Smuggling Networks Requires Enhanced Cooperation between Countries, Interior Minister Says

Speaking at a meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council here on Tuesday, Interior Minister Kalin Stoyanov said that preparations for implementing the Pact on Migration and Asylum, strengthening of national asylum and return systems, the timely launch of the Entry/Exit system and the full operationalization of Frontex are priorities for Bulgaria. Stoyanov stressed that in parallel, work should be done even more actively to improve the situation in Schengen and to counter organized criminal networks for smuggling migrants.

Bulgaria’s Interior Minister highlighted the need for enhanced police operational cooperation between countries, including intensive information exchange, increased joint activities between groups of countries (as well as at national level), identification of contact points at strategic and operational level to monitor joint activities and respond quickly to emergencies and new developments, coordinated parallel activities against migrant smuggling networks and joint investigations, supported by Europol and EUROJUST.

Regarding the upcoming abolition of controls at the internal air and sea borders of Bulgaria and Romania as of March 31, 2024, Stoyanov assured the participants in the meeting that Bulgaria has taken all technical and operational measures to ensure smooth abolition of controls. Measures to control primary and secondary movements, cooperation with third countries and European agencies, as well as measures to increase returns are being continuously upgraded, he stressed. The Interior Minister expressed confidence that returns would increase in number if Frontex had greater powers to cooperate with third countries.