Between 1st-2nd February 2023, the Ministerial Conference „Effective Management of the EU’s External Borders”, organized by Bulgaria, took place in Sofia, Bulgaria. The meeting was attended by representatives of the ministries of interior from the EU member states and the Schengen associated states, as well as from the European agencies FRONTEX and EUROPOL. Romania was represented by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr. Lucian BODE.
The conference provided a platform for discussion and exchange of points of view regarding the tools and measures that ensure an adequate response to the challenges at the EU’s external borders. The Romanian official representative highlighted the importance of concentrating the efforts of all the entities involved – member states, European institutions and European agencies – on steps of action, both at the EU level and with regard to the external dimension of migration, by strengthening cooperation with third countries located in the proximity of the EU and with countries of origin, with a focus on readmission and return.
The Romanian minister emphasized that it is important that the states that are not in the front line of border protection, or that, due to their geographical position, are protected from the challenges faced by the member states in the south and east of Europe, avoid considering that the responsibility lies only externally and to be open to compromise solutions to demonstrate that solidarity is two-way.
Even if the Western Balkans route had one of the most spectacular increases last year, the Romanian minister recalled that the numbers at Romania’s borders registered a reduced level due to the measures implemented by the Romanian Border Police, mainly focused on preventing illegal crossings, together with the Serbian partners, but also with the support of the Frontex Agency.
The Romanian official showed that the downward trend from last year has intensified even more this year. In addition to measures to prevent border crossings, one of the measures that led to the deterrence of illegal crossings is generated by Romania’s systematic registration of all asylum seekers in Eurodac.
On the sidelines of the conference, the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr. Lucian BODE, had a new bilateral meeting with Mr. Ivan DEMERDZHIEV, Acting Deputy Prime Minister for Public Order and Security and Minister of the Interior of the Republic of Bulgaria. On this occasion, the bilateral consultations started on the occasion of the informal Justice and Internal Affairs Council in Stockholm regarding the accession process of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen area were continued. Also, issues related to inter-institutional cooperation in the areas of responsibility of the two partner ministries were addressed.
