site.btaAbolition of Control at Schengen Borders of Bulgaria, Romania Well Deserved, Interior Minister Says

Attending the regular meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council in Brussels on Thursday, Bulgarian caretaker Interior Minister Atanas Ilkov said that the abolition of the controls at the Schengen borders of Bulgaria and Romania was a well-deserved result for all of the two countries' actions and efforts over the past years. Ilkov's comment came as a response of the EU Council's decision to remove checks at the land Schengen borders of Bulgaria and Romania as of January 1, 2025. "I am excited, today is a historic day for Bulgaria, Bulgarian citizens and Bulgarian business, for the government and all the employees of the Ministry of Interior", Ilkov added.

He expressed his gratitude to his colleagues in the Ministry of Interior, to former EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson and to Hungarian Interior Minister Sandor Pinter. Ilkov clarified that random risk assessment checks will be conducted on the land border with Romania until end-June 2025.

"We are expanding our activities along the Bulgarian-Turkish border", the minister noted, adding that an international police contingent consisting of 100 officers from Bulgaria, Austria, Romania and Hungary will be deployed along the border with Turkiye as of January 2, 2025. Greece has also expressed willingness to join the effort. "We will continue to work in the same way to ensure the security and peace of mind of Bulgarian citizens and other EU citizens", Ilkov said.