Europe gives more than EUR 1.7 million to fight illegal migration in the border region between Bulgaria and Turkey

More than EUR 1.7 million will be invested in measures to fight illegal migration in the border region between Bulgaria and Turkey. The funds are provided under the Bulgaria-Turkey IPA Cross-border Cooperation Programme INTERREG VI-A 2021-2027 managed by the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works.

Today in Burgas was handed over the contract for the implementation of the joint project between the two countries “Enhancing the capacity and improving the cooperation of law enforcement agencies on the territory of the regions of Burgas, Haskovo and Yambol, Edirne and Karklareli in the field of migration”, which will increase the effectiveness in curbing illegal crossings in the border area.

“We are currently investing in the security not only of the cross-border region, but of the entire European Union. We have purposely chosen through the largest project of the programme to fund the highest priority areas, to upgrade the existing systems and to be as prepared as possible in preventing illegal trafficking of human beings”, said Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Angelina Boneva when handing over the project contract to Kiril Tsenkin, Deputy Minister of Interior.

The Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Interior in Burgas is the leading partner in the project, which also involves the directorates in Yambol and Haskovo, as well as the Turkish regions of Adrianople and Karklareli. The duration of the project is two years.

The overall objective of the investment is to enhance the capacity of national systems to counter migration in the cross-border region by improving the functional and operational capacities of the different services in the two countries.

With the secured EU funding, the police departments in Burgas, Yambol and Haskovo are to purchase a total of 16 off-road specialised vehicles, 5 vans and 2 passenger buses. On the Turkish side, the funds will be invested in modern devices for checking documents at border crossings, cameras for police patrols and high-tech systems for recognising car number plates.

Specialised training is foreseen to improve the training of staff. These include improving knowledge on EU migration policy and crisis management, and around 70 law enforcement officers in Edirne and Karklareli will receive training in English and Bulgarian. Joint trainings between Bulgarian and Turkish services are also foreseen to improve coordination, exchange of experience and good practices, as well as joint demonstration events in both countries.

At the ceremony of awarding the contract for the implementation of the project were also present the Consul General of Turkey in Burgas Tolga Orkun, the Governor of Burgas Plamen Yanev, the directors of the Burgas and Haskovo Regional Police Departments - Emil Pavlov and Ivan Rusev, the Deputy Director of the Yambol Regional Police Department Atanas Atanasov, the Deputy Governor of Karklareli Yusuf Guler and the head of the Managing Authority of the program Milen Obretenov.