The Minister of Citizens’ Protection met today in Alexandroupolis with the Deputy Prime Minister of Bulgaria for Security and Public Order, Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev. Takis Theodorikakos.

Mr. Theodorikakos and Mr. Demerdzhiev agreed to strengthen cooperation between the two countries to better protect Europe’s borders with Turkey, in Euro.

At the same time, the Bulgarian prime minister acknowledged, for his part, the need for financial support from the EU. a major project to expand the fence along the European border to control migratory flows. In addition, he praised the effectiveness of the existing 37.5 km long fence in Greece, telling Mr. Theodorikakos that after its construction, the pressure on the border between Bulgaria and Turkey has been significantly reduced.

The Minister of Citizens’ Protection also raised with his Bulgarian counterpart the issues of a joint strategy for modernizing the infrastructure of electronic surveillance with the aim of more effective actions of the police of the two countries in eliminating trafficking networks of illegal immigrants.

Finally, Mr. Demerdzhiev asked Greece to support Bulgaria’s inclusion in the EU’s Schengen Free Travel Area. The meeting was also attended by G.G. Public order Michael Karamalakis and Deputy Minister of the Interior of Bulgaria Monika Dimitrova-Bicher.

“Evros: The border of Greece and Europe with Turkey. Respect for international law and asymmetrical provocation. Respect for human life and the instrumentalization of human suffering.”

We had a great meeting with my colleague, the minister of Bulgaria, and we decided to meet here in Alexandroupolis, among other things, because Greece and Bulgaria are facing a very important common problem: a very big problem of illegal immigration. Greece and Bulgaria have our borders with Turkey, which are the borders of the European Union with Turkey.

This is generally the border of the Western world with Turkey.

Unfortunately, recently we have been witnessing an organized operation to exploit unfortunate people, illegal immigrants, which is developing both on the borders of Greece with Turkey and on the borders of Bulgaria with Turkey.

“Message to strengthen cooperation between Greece and Bulgaria to protect EU borders, international law and people’s lives”

Our meeting sends a strong message about strengthening our cooperation and coordinating our efforts to protect international law, protect the borders of the European Union, protect human life. All recent events have clearly shown that Evros is not just a geographical border.

But it is also the boundary between respect for human life and the exploitation of unfortunate people on the other side. It is also the boundary between the application of international law and the violation of international law on the other hand.

We continue to resolutely and effectively strengthen the security of our borders in every possible way. We continue the construction of the fence along the entire Evros River. We are increasing electronic means of surveillance. We cooperate with our European partners, we cooperate with our neighbors, always respecting the principles of international law. To deal with the problem. And, above all, the united Greeks will meet this challenge, as we have done for a long time, in a very effective manner, including with the support and cooperation of our Bulgarian friends.

We also discussed with the minister the issue of integration of neighboring Bulgaria, full integration into the Schengen zone. Greece fully supports the request of the neighboring country, we believe that it is absolutely ready to join the Schengen area, therefore, in the relevant procedures to be carried out, our position will be clear and unambiguous in favor of Bulgaria’s inclusion in the Schengen. zone.