One way to reach the European Union is via the 'Eastern Mediterranean route' from Turkey into either Bulgaria or Greece. Back in 2015 millions of people reached Europe this way to flee conflicts in the Middle East. Since then, international deals have been struck and border security toughened across Europe to stem the flow of migrants. Yet, whilst other routes to Europe have seen a fall, the numbers travelling via this 'Eastern Mediterranean route' into the EU have increased since 2021. Presenter Nick Robinson hears from refugees in Turkey looking to leave and from those who have successfully made it across the land border into Bulgaria. He explores the success and limits of the Bulgarian border force’s efforts to police its border.
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Hands up.
If you came here with a people smuggler and it was easy to get over the border from Turkey to Bulgaria, there's a lot of people nodding yes and it's easy.
No easy.
Turkey is home to more refugees than any other country in the world.
Over 3 million from the war in Syria and a million more, including those who fled the war in Afghanistan.
To get from Turkey to the European Union, you can go by boat to Greece or by land across mountains and forests and rivers, and sometimes a fearsome looking razor wire fence to Bulgaria, like these men have done who spoke to me at a refugee camp in southeast Bulgaria.
So you pay the smugglers, you climb over the fence, but you don't see the police.
That route is known as the East Mediterranean Route.
And back in 2015, millions of people reached Europe this way to flee conflicts in the Middle East.
Since then, international deals have been struck and border security toughened across Europe to stem the flow of migrants.
The European Union has paid billions of euros to Turkey to stop migrants attempting the journey, and billions more to countries in North Africa, Tunisia and Libya, which might be one reason that major route from North Africa to Italy has been in decline this year.
The numbers travelling via the East Mediterranean Route, though from Turkey into either Bulgaria or Greece, has been steadily growing since 2021.
What's driving people to make dangerous journeys across land and sea to Europe?
I'm Nick Robinson and I've been to Turkey and Bulgaria to meet the people looking to make their way into Europe, those who've just made it, and the people trying to stop them.
Welcome to the documentary from the BBC World Service.
So it was a smuggler.