Bulgarian interior minister Ivan Demerdzhiev and his Austrian counterpart Gerhard Karner discussed Black Sea security and cooperation between their countries, the Bulgarian interior ministry press office said. Demerdzhiev is on a working visit to Austria.

The ministers also talked about relations between the two countries and security developments in the EU. Demerdzhiev called Karner "a colleague and a friend".

Demerdzhiev thanked the EU for its help, and Austria for the troops who guard the border alongside Bulgarian officers and Frontex staff.

He said security on the Bulgarian-Turkish border has improved sharply and far fewer migrants now cross it. Talks between Bulgaria, Turkey and Greece have led to very good cooperation. The minister said:

"This route has gone from one of the most problematic routes in the European Union to one of the best-protected external borders of the Union."

Demerdzhiev said cooperation with Austria is at a very high level, but Bulgaria wants to deepen and build on it.

Karner said Bulgaria has invested heavily in guarding its external borders in recent years. He said this stretch of the EU's external border is among the best guarded and most secure.

The European Parliament's plenary session in Strasbourg opens today and runs until Thursday, 22 October. On the agenda are Black Sea security, EU relations with Russia and Ukraine, and the conclusions of the European Council meeting on 15 and 16 October.