Bulgaria and Austria Enhance Border Surveillance with €190 Million Investment

Strategic Insights -

Bulgarian Minister of the Interior Daniel Mitov and his Austrian counterpart Gerhard Karner inaugurated a new border surveillance zone along the Bulgarian-Turkish border, marking a significant step in strengthening the EU's external borders. The €190 million project, funded by the European Commission, aims to safeguard the EU's borders and implement the EU migration pact and return policies. The initiative has already shown positive results, with the number of attempts to cross the external EU border dropping dramatically from 2,000 per day to around 60 in the last two years.

Key Takeaways:

  • The new border surveillance zone is part of a large-scale project worth BGN 170 million (approximately €90 million), funded by the European Commission.
  • The project aims to introduce a solid policy on returning migrants who have entered the EU illegally, in line with the EU migration pact and return policies.
  • The Austrian Minister praised Bulgaria's efforts to protect the border and the good interaction between Bulgarian and Turkish border authorities.
  • The number of attempts to cross the external EU border has dropped from 2,000 per day to around 60 in the last two years, largely due to increased funding for border security.
  • By the end of 2026, a new border surveillance zone with 250 cameras is expected to cover 100 km of the border not yet protected by video surveillance.
  • The Bulgarian authorities aim to have a fully "smart border" by the end of 2026, making it one of the best protected and policed borders of the European Union.

Statistics:

  • The new border surveillance zone is part of a €190 million project funded by the European Commission.
  • The number of attempts to cross the external EU border has dropped from 2,000 per day to around 60 in the last two years.
  • 100 km of the border not yet covered by video surveillance will be protected by a new border surveillance zone with 250 cameras by the end of 2026.
  • The Bulgarian authorities aim to have a fully "smart border" by the end of 2026.

Sources:

  • Bloomberg
  • Bulgarian National Radio (BNR)
  • European Commission Press Release