Border control

Travelers passing through Terminal 2 of Sofia Airport can now enjoy a smoother journey with the introduction of electronic self-scanning counters for boarding passes. Set to officially launch on March 6, this innovative system aims to streamline the passenger experience, reducing wait times and enhancing efficiency during the security check process.

Turkish borders crossing into Europe have witnessed tightened controls on vehicles entering and exiting, causing long lines and wait times, ahead of Bulgaria and Romania's partial inclusion into the Schengen zone from March 31.

Austria is considering prolonging border controls with its Schengen neighbors due to the surge in migrant arrivals, announced Interior Minister Gerhard Karner during a press conference in Vienna alongside Bavarian counterpart Joachim Herrmann.

Security forces and Coast Guard units rescued approximately 24,000 migrants in Turkish seas last year, while 20 lost their lives on perilous routes, the Transport and Infrastructure Ministry has announced.

BELGRADE - State Secretary at the Serbian Ministry of Interior Danilo Stevandic met with the Deputy Director General of the EU Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs Olivier Onidi on Tuesday to discuss cooperation on migration.

In a recent interview with tagesspiegel.de, Asen Vassilev, Bulgaria's Minister of Finance, unveiled the economic strain inflicted on the nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), estimating losses between 3 to 5 percent.

In a collaborative effort, a group of MEPs and MPs from Bulgaria, Greece, and Romania, including Daniel Laurer from "We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria" (WCC-DB), is urging the removal of border controls along the land borders between the three countries.

Switzerland has decided to eliminate passport checks at its airports for travelers flying to and from Bulgaria and Romania, following the European Union's recent move to admit the two countries into "air and sea Schengen".

A significant development unfolded in Silistra, northwestern Bulgaria, where authorities successfully detained a group of eight illegal migrants, marking a crucial step in addressing the ongoing challenges related to illegal migration. The detainees, hailing from Syria and Iraq, included minors and were part of a larger group attempting unauthorized entry into Bulgaria.

There is a significant increase in the number of illegal border crossings in the EU for 2023, totaling around 380,000, with a rise in arrivals from the Mediterranean Sea. This was announced by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency ("Frontex").