Romanian Border Police

Romanians from the country's large diaspora have been returning to their home country to attend a mass demonstration on Friday afternoon calling on the government to resign.

The Romanian Border Police in 2017 participated in 13 joint operations and a pilot project organised under the aegis of the FRONTEX European Border and Coast Guard Agency, having deployed 370 border guards and four sea-going boats, according to the 2017 activity report released by head of the General Border Police Inspectorate (IGPF) Ioan Buda on Thursday.

Fourteen Iraqi citizens, accompanied by five Bulgarian human traffickers, were captured by the Romanian police in the area of ​​Mangalia (southeastern Romania, near the Black Sea), Agerpres reported, citing the General Inspectorate of the Romanian Border Police.

Romanian Coast Guards have seized two boats carrying Syrians and Iraqis in the Black Sea, raising concerns that a new migrant route to Europe might be opening up, after several Balkan countries closed their borders to the refugee influx.

Romania's Interior Ministry on Wednesday started posting updated information on its website about expected waiting times at Romanian checkpoints with Hungary, to curb the frustration of people queuing up to spend their Christmas holidays at home.

Hundreds of cars and goods vehicles waited for hours at Romania's checkpoints with Hungary over the weekend as the custom procedures slowed following Bucharest's decision to tighten border controls.

The Romanian Border Police Day, marking 150 years of institutional existence, is celebrated in Herastrau Park on Saturday.