The interior ministers of Bulgaria and Turkey discussed cooperation on migration challenges.

The Minister of Interior of Bulgaria Daniel Mitov welcomed his Turkish counterpart Ali Yerlikaya, emphasizing that Turkey is a strategic partner and friendly neighboring country with which Bulgaria maintains an open and constructive dialogue. Mitov stressed that the two countries work together to limit illegal migration and related phenomena such as cross-border organized crime, human trafficking, drug trafficking, and terrorism.

The ministers noted that the migration situation in the region is dynamic and the good results achieved should not make them complacent, but rather mobilize them for even more effective cooperation. During the meeting, the topic of the upcoming travels of Turkish citizens through Bulgaria in the summer, as well as the progress in the modernization of the border crossing points Kapitan Andreevo, Lesovo, and Malko Tarnovo, were discussed.

At the end of the meeting, Minister Mitov stressed that the timely sharing of information and the interaction between the responsible structures of the two countries is key to the success in countering illegal migration. Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya is visiting Bulgaria to participate in the Second Ministerial Meeting between Bulgaria, Greece, and Turkey on combating illegal migration.