site.btaHuman Resources of Border Police Need to Be Preserved: Interior Minister Daniel Mitov

Interior Minister Daniel Mitov said in a position paper distributed by the Interior Ministry on Friday that he is adamant that the human resources of the Border Police Directorate General need to be preserved. Political speculations that after our full Schengen membership the Bulgarian border is a mere signpost are absurd and insulting to all Border Police officers, the position paper added.

“As Interior Minister, I categorically reject and oppose such accusations of inaction against Bulgarian police officers,” Mitov added.

According to the European experience and the current geopolitical situation, all countries consider disbanding their border control structures a mistake. The reason is that now they do not have trained officers to restore border controls.

Retaining the capacity of the officers is crucial to prevent migrant flows from shifting across internal borders, as well as to counter cross-border crime, drug trafficking, excise goods, etc.

If necessary, border controls can be restored in a timely manner and, given the expertise and training of the officers, the effective protection of the external borders of the European Union will be ensured, the position paper said. 

Earlier on Friday, in the halls of Parliament, Co-Chair of Continue the Change Assen Vassilev said that in order to raise the salaries in the Interior Ministry, there must be real reforms. According to him, salaries in the Interior Ministry are being raised "without reducing the staff and without increasing the quality". 

"Not only that, but there was also a demand to raise the number of Border Police, given that it was clear that we would enter Schengen. What exactly is the Border Police at the Kulata checkpoint doing at the moment? The border between Bulgaria and Greece is currently a mere signpost," Vassilev said. According to him, Border Police units should be removed at border crossings where there are no more checks.