On July 22, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov said hat the country was preparing for the increase in the numbers of migrants crossing the southern border of the country. The statement came amid a failed coup attempt in neighboring Turkey, following which over 10,000 members of the Turkish military have been arrested.
In late July, Borisov said he had asked Frontex to provide equipment, ships and helicopters to curb the illegal flow of migrants to Bulgaria and enhance border control on the southern border.
"Frontex is committed to support Bulgaria. In the coming weeks, Frontex will deploy border surveillance officers, patrol cars, thermo-vision vans and dog teams to the land border with Turkey. At the same time border surveillance will also be reinforced at the Bulgarian-Serbian border," Berndt Koerner, the Frontex deputy executive director, said as quoted by the press service.
According to media reports, about 150 illegal migrants are being detained on the Bulgaria-Turkey border every day.
Europe is struggling to find a solution to a massive refugee crisis as hundreds of thousands of refugees flee war and poverty in conflict-torn countries in the Middle East and North Africa.
In May, Sofia approved the allocation of some $3.6 million for the construction of an anti-migrant fence on the Bulgarian-Turkish border in response to the growing number of migrants reaching Bulgaria.
