On 27 September, the Bulgarian Interior Minister announced that Bulgaria was working towards becoming a full member of the Schengen area. In this context, the Minister pointed out that Turkey was its strategic partner and that, thanks to their good relations, migratory pressure at the border had fallen by 70% compared to the previous year.
On 6 September, the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network revealed that Frontex agents had been pressured by the Bulgarian police not to report systematic pushbacks at the Turkish border. Following an internal report on the issue, Frontex increased its presence by 500 officers, even though serious or persistent violations would normally require Frontex to suspend operations. According to the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee, in 2023 there were 9,897 alleged pushbacks on Bulgaria’s borders with Turkey and Greece, involving 174,588 people.
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