Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Internal Affairs Ivan Demerdzhiev

Ivan Demerdzhiev is a lawyer with over 20 years of experience.

He was born in 1975 in Plovdiv.

In 2001, he held a working meeting today with the Minister for Citizen Protection of Greece, Panagiotis Theodorikakos, the press center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs announced.

Deputy Minister Monica Beecher and Chief Commissioner Petar Todorov, Chief Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, took part in the delegation from the Bulgarian side.

The main topics discussed by the two sides were the fight against illegal migration, Bulgaria's accession to the Schengen area and strengthening of police cooperation. 

Minister Demerdzhiev and his Greek counterpart discuss Schengen

"The two countries are called to guard the external borders of the EU and we are obliged to interact as best as possible in this regard.

There is no way for us to successfully cope with this task if we do not cope equally well and help each other", noted the Bulgarian Interior Minister after the talks with Minister Theodorikakos.

Demerdzhiev expressed the readiness of the Bulgarian side for very close cooperation with Greece and the desire to mediate the dialogue with the Turkish side. 

At the meeting, the two sides agreed to continue the talks on a professional level as well.

"Once again, the Greek side has confirmed its support for Bulgaria on its way to Schengen", noted Minister Demerdzhiev and specified that he informed his colleague about the steps to be taken regarding the inspection of Bulgaria and Romania, as well as all subsequent actions until they are carried out of the Justice and Home Affairs Council in December, at which we hope a positive decision will be made for our country. 

Minister Panagiotis Theodorikakos emphasized that the topics discussed at the working meeting, and especially that of illegal migration, are of common importance to both countries: "We must have coordinated actions and cooperation so that we can protect our borders and those of EU and to protect human life".

According to him, from these facts and recent events, it is clear that the EU is not only a geographical object, but a boundary between the application and non-application of international law.

We continue to protect the borders more and more confidently in all possible ways, we cooperate with European partners, always with respect for international law, so that we can overcome the challenges in interaction and with the support of our Bulgarian friends, emphasized the Minister for Citizen Protection of Greece .

In the course of the talks, the two ministers agreed to strengthen cooperation in the field of combating cross-border crime related to migration.

Ivan Demerdzhiev

illegal migrants

Schengen