Central European Midday Report: "Recent Developments Across Eastern Europe: Migration Decline, Financial Innovation, and Arson Incident"
Bulgarian Interior Minister Reports Decline in Illegal Migration Attempts: During a parliamentary hearing, the outgoing Minister of Interior Affairs, Kalin Stoyanov, addressed concerns regarding migrant influx. Responding to BSP for Bulgaria's Ivan Ivanov, Stoyanov stated that contrary to claims of intensified migration pressure, there's a noticeable decrease in attempts. He highlighted that from the year's beginning until now, 5200 illegal crossing attempts at the Bulgarian-Turkish border were prevented, compared to 15,600 during the same period last year. Stoyanov attributed this decline to reinforced border security measures and collaboration with the Turkish side. He also dismissed assertions of returning criminals from Afghanistan and Syria, citing the repatriation of Bulgarian citizens who committed crimes abroad. Stoyanov assured that recent incidents were swiftly addressed with pre-trial proceedings initiated.
Moldovan Prime Minister Hails Launch of Instant Payment System: Prime Minister Dorin Recean celebrated the launch of Moldova's Instant Payment System (MIA), marking a significant leap in the country's financial modernization. Developed by the National Bank of Moldova (BNM) and launched in partnership with USAID, MIA allows individuals and businesses to conduct commission-free transactions in less than 15 seconds using only a phone number. Recean emphasized that this innovation aims to boost economic security, streamline financial transactions, and align Moldova with the European digital economy. The system's introduction underscores Moldova's commitment to innovation and fostering sustainable economic growth.
Arson Suspected in Fire at Kosovo Court Facility: The Basic Court in Ferizaj, Kosovo, branch in Kaçanik, faced a fire incident suspected to be arson. According to the court's statement, the blaze occurred around 04:00 in the morning, engulfing part of the second-floor offices. Swift response from firefighting teams and police led to the localization and extinguishing of the fire. Necessary measures were taken to secure the site and gather evidence. The investigation is ongoing to ascertain the perpetrators behind the arson incident, which has raised concerns about the security of judicial facilities in the region.