During his working visit, Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev inspected the operations of the Frontex command center and held a meeting with the Bulgarian representatives within the European agency. During the talks with Executive Director Hans Leijtens, the cooperation between our country and the Agency was highly praised, noting that 160 officers from the Frontex standing corps are already working on the ground at the external borders as part of operation "Bulgaria 2026".
According to Minister Demerdzhiev, Bulgaria's border security efforts represent a good example that could serve as a benchmark for other European Union countries. In the context of the topics discussed, he stated: "A stronger Frontex means, above all, more security and more effective support on the ground. The development of the Agency must be driven by the real needs of member states and the specific risks at the external borders."
Both sides reaffirmed the need for more active support for member states to effectively counter illegal migration and emerging threats. Demerdzhiev emphasized that the community must be prepared for modern challenges, such as the use of unmanned aerial vehicles, adding: "It is necessary to achieve a unified security standard for the external borders that works to the benefit of the entire European Union."
In his conversation with Hans Leijtens, the Bulgarian Interior Minister highlighted the strategic importance of the cooperation with the Agency. He noted our country's role in protecting the Union's external borders, stating: "For Bulgaria, the partnership with Frontex is of key importance. As a country on a critical external border of the European Union, we are protecting not only our national border but also the security of the entire Schengen Area."