The UK is seeking a new partnership with Bulgaria in a bid to halt illegal immigration as over a million Syrian and Afghan refugees are expected to head to western Europe from Turkey.
The Times reported on Thursday that British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is set to announce a security partnership with Bulgaria to boost intelligence sharing between the National Crime Agency and Bulgarian police.
The aim is to combat organized crime groups that smuggle migrants and equipment used to manufacture dinghies, mainly in Turkey/
Sunak’s main goal is tackling the small boats crisis by urging fellow European leaders to treat illegal migration as a top priority.
After this year’s earthquake in February, more than a million refugees of both countries who are currently based in Turkey are expected to head to western Europe and Britain.
Illegal immigrants travel in dinghies manufactured in Turkey, which the UK Border Force says has become a hub for people smugglers ferrying migrants across the English Channel.
Bulgaria has become a major entry point to the EU for gangs bringing in boats’ equipment from Turkey and for migrants following a crackdown on Aegean Sea crossings into Greece.
The arrangement helps Bulgaria to “destroy the business model” of the criminals, according to Downing Street.
Bulgaria has stopped 11,000 illegal entries across its border with Turkey since January, a 40 percent increase compared with the same period in 2022.
“Europe is facing unprecedented threats at our borders, from (Russian President) Putin’s utter contempt of other countries’ sovereignty to the rise in organized immigration crime. We cannot address these problems without Europe’s governments and institutions working closely together,” Sunak was quoted as saying.
