According to Tutilescu, illegal migrants spotted in border areas seek for asylum and therefore put high pressure on the Romanian asylum system. Most cases are reported at the Serbian border, as migrants try to force-cross into Schengen via the Balkans. On average, some 1,400 illegal migrants are detected at Romania’s southwestern frontier every year.

Marian Tutilescu argues that although figures aren’t very high, they are illustrative of a significant increase as compared to previous years. Centralized data point to a 98% efficiency of detecting and apprehending illegal migrants at Romanian border crossing points, thanks to efficient border systems. Efficient measures have also been taken at the Greek border with Turkey. Before the start of FRONTEX missions, some 400 illegal immigrants crossed the Turkish border into Greece every day.

Things are now different. Human trafficking has dropped, however exerting mounting pressure on Bulgaria’s border with Turkey. The Head of the Schengen Department Marian Tutilescu said the Romanian Interior Ministry had taken a series of measures to step up our country’s asylum capacity so as to better cope with larger migration flows. He referred to an EU-funded project aimed at setting up a bigger center for migrants in the western city of Timisoara, a project worth 2 million euros.

“Romania’s and Bulgaria’s Schengen accession is just around the corner. At least this is what I hope, given that all criteria in the Schengen acquis have been met, beyond any other political complaints voiced by some Member States. In light of that, and considering the lifting of internal border controls, we anticipate migration pressure to mount in these areas and along with that an escalation in the activity of human trafficking networks”, Marian Tutilescu said.