site.btaBorder Police Director Zlatanov: No Migrant Pressure Will Be Tolerated at Bulgarian-Greek Border

Bulgaria will not allow any migrant pressure at its border with Greece, Border Police Director Anton Zlatanov said in Petrich (Southwestern Bulgaria) on Thursday. 

Zlatanov explained that the Border Police personnel will not be reduced, and officers will begin working under a new model. He was speaking on the occasion of Bulgaria becaming a full member of the Schengen free movement area as of January 1, 2025, along with Romania.

"On Monday, we had a comprehensive meeting involving all operational levels," Zlatanov said. "Our officers at the Bulgarian-Greek border are fully informed of their responsibilities."

He added that a natural adjustment was anticipated and that the annual analysis conducted throughout the year had indicated a 70% decrease in entry attempts and a 46% reduction in successful entries into the country. The realistic objective for this year is to sustain these numbers rather than improve them.

Zlatanov said that the main challenge for the Border Police is to keep last year's level of external border control, especially at the Bulgarian-Turkish border. As a result, officers will be reassigned until the new positions, approved by Parliament, are filled.

He added that there is strong interest in joining the Border Police force, with six candidates competing for each position. The selection process will end some time in April, with training for the first 400 recruits beginning in May. 

Zlatanov likened the officers' evolving role to medical training, transitioning from general practitioners to surgeons, and emphasized the need for precision and focus in their duties.

For the internal borders with Romania and Greece, compensatory control measures remain in place, ensuring smooth passage for citizens and tourists while targeting individuals with criminal intent for inspection. 

"This is a goal we will achieve," Zlatanov said.