site.btaChief Commissioner Zlatanov: Migrant Pressure Eased Significantly But Still There

There is a huge drop in migrant pressure through the country, but it has not stopped, said Chief Commissioner Anton Zlatanov, Director of the Border Police General Directorate, presenting the structure's annual report for 2024.

The event was attended by Interior Minister Daniel Mitov, Acting Secretary General of the Interior Ministry Miroslav Rashkov, the heads of the National Revenue Agency and the National Customs Agency, ambassadors.

“Our task for this year is to maintain the levels of migrant pressure from 2024, and try to improve them, without allowing deterioration,“ Zlatanov also pointed out. 

In 2024, 55,166 people tried to enter the country illegally, which is a 70% decrease from 2023, when it was 181,117, show Interior Ministry statistics in the report. Detained within the country last year were 4,458 people, while in 2023 their number was 13,477.

Zlatanov stressed that the work of the Interior Ministry and the Border Police, but not only them, has led to enormous benefits for Bulgaria, including financial and economic. "We have contributed to increasing economic growth in the country," he said.

“After a series of unfairly unsuccessful attempts, from January 1, 2025 we are a full member of the Schengen area,” commented Zlatanov and added that long-term inspections have turned the Border Police into the most inspected service in Europe.