Border violence: What is going on in Bulgaria?

Bulgaria has long sought to join the Schengen Area of free movement which allows border-free travel between Schengen Area EU countries without being subject to border checks

The European Parliament and EU Commission both say that Bulgaria is ready to join the borderless zone, and have urged the EU Council to give the green light before the end of 2023.

But Schengen Area accession requires unanimity among member states. So far, the Netherlands and Austria have blocked Bulgaria’s attempts to join, warning that large numbers of migrants are entering the EU via the so-called Western Balkan route.

At the same time, some NGOs have sounded the alarm over the alleged use of violence by Bulgarian border guards against migrants trying to enter the country.

Euronews Witness travelled along the Turkish-Bulgarian border to find out more.

Bulgaria is a member of NATO and the European Union. The Iron Curtain, which divided Europe after World War Two, has been replaced by a modern border fence to prevent migrants from crossing illegally into the EU.

In 2022, the Bulgarian border police thwarted 164,000 irregular crossing attempts, compared to 55,000 in 2021, according to figures provided by Sofia’s interior ministry.

The EU recently earmarked €200 million in financial support to help Bulgaria upgrade its border management. But in recent months, Bulgaria has been rocked by tragic events. 

Several police officers have been killed in road collisions involving human traffickers transporting migrants.

In February, the bodies of 18 suffocated Afghan nationals were found in a vehicle transporting timber outside Sofia, where some 52 migrants were crammed in for several days.

In addition, multiple allegations have been made about Bulgarian border guards