A meeting was hosted this week by Bulgaria’s Black Sea port of Burgas of the coast/border guard leaders of Bulgaria, Romania, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and Georgia. The forum represents an efficient regional model for sharing responsibility and for joint action in countering cross-border organized crime and international terrorism in the Black Sea aquatory. At the meeting in Burgas Bulgaria took over from Russia the rotation presidency of the forum and will keep it for one year. This country has experience in this position having presided over the forum for four terms. However now it takes over this role with new responsibility for the region and in a complicated international situation linked to a reorientation of migration waves which – following tightened control on land borders, have been looking for alternative sea routes.

As a matter of fact, there is currently no indication of a strong migration pressure on Bulgaria by sea, the Black Sea aquatory has been under constant monitoring and has seen no illegal migration for the past year. However, apart from an advantage this is also a challenge to coast guards in the region as they are expected to prevent such cases in the future. The emphasis in cooperation with border and coast guards in the region during the presidency of Bulgaria will be laid on the Black Sea coordination & information center in Burgas which has recently gained international renown. 

Specialized cooperation will be developed and enriched also with the already traditional Black Sea Hawk joint exercises. In the meantime the Bulgarian presidency coincides with the launch of the newly established European Border and Coast Guard called to protect the external borders of the EU. In the coming months we will probably witness cooperation between the Black Sea Coast/Board Guard Forum with this structure and this will undoubtedly be useful on both sides. As a member of the Forum and a participant in the newly established European Border and Coast Guard, Bulgaria shall have to take on further responsibilities in this regard.