Statement on the Frontex pilot drone project in Bulgaria

In spite of extensive reports of human rights violations against people on the move in Bulgaria, the European Border agency Frontex is forging ahead with a plan to deploy so-called tactical drones along the Bulgarian-Turkish border.

In a press release published on 28 May, Frontex announced it will be giving a live demonstration of these drones at a conference on 4-5 June in Burgas, Bulgaria.

This is despite a growing track record of human rights violations at the border, from violent pushbacks to negligence leading to the death of people on the move.

Back in October 2024, the Border Violence Monitoring Network (BVMN) published a report detailing the extensive network of surveillance and border technologies used by Bulgarian authorities along its border with Turkey.

Our conclusions were clear: the goal of these technologies is to deter people on the move from crossing certain border areas, leading many to choose much more dangerous routes.

Anas Ambri, coordinator at the BVMN said: “Frontex’ deployment of so-called tactical drones at the Bulgaria-Turkey border is just the latest example of the EU’s over-reliance on technological gimmicks instead of engaging humanely with its international obligations vis-a-vis people on the move. The deployment of these new drones will do very little to improve the situation of people on the move, who continue to be brutalised by the European border regime.”

“As Frontex expands its presence, and supposedly its human rights monitoring, in Bulgaria, people on the move continue to report to us that pushbacks from Bulgaria are particularly brutal and violent. It remains to be seen if this technology upgrade will lead to a better oversight of violent pushbacks, since Frontex officers have so far failed to report them for fear of reprisal from their Bulgarian counterparts,” Ambri added. 

For further information please contact: press@borderviolence.eu