At the end of February, the European Parliament passed the Readmission (reciprocal return of immigrants) Agreement between the European Union and Turkey signed in December 2013. It stipulates for the return of illegal immigrants from the EU into Turkey and from Turkey into EU. This is valid not only of the citizens of the two parties to the agreement, but also of citizens from third countries having entered the EU or Turkey from either the Union or the southern Balkan state. The agreement benefits Bulgaria, one of the poorest EU members. For just one year, the number of illegal migrants from Turkey has hit 11,000. Even the Justice and Home Affairs Council admitted in Brussels on March 3 that Bulgaria is one of the three member states to have sustained the biggest burden from the Syrian refugee flow, along with Germany and Sweden. In the meantime, an even stronger migration wave is expected with the coming of the spring, a report presented by PM Plamen Oresharski contends. In this regard, the Readmission Agreement is a long-awaited step benefiting Bulgaria that has got no such bilateral agreement with Turkey. It obliges the two countries to readmit their nationals or nationals of third countries without papers with an address of residence, as well as persons without citizenship having entered EU or Turkey via the southern Balkan state or the Union. The agreement is counted on to cut the numbers of illegal migrants and to help combat human trafficking with greater success. Under the agreement, the EU shall provide financial and technical assistance to Turkey with a view to the strengthening of the Turkish border police and video surveillance. However, the agreement will be triggered into effect after its ratification by the EU and Turkey. Until then, the issue with illegal migrants on the Bulgaria-Turkey border will be up to the effectiveness of bilateral efforts. We go back to a commentary of Bulgarian Foreign Minister Kristian Vigenin made during the visit to this country of Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu:

“In addition to the already said about efforts to contain the refugee flow, we expect any moment now the signature of the agreement with Turkey for the trilateral border center (including Greece). For the purpose, Turkey’s interior minister is due to pay a visit to Sofia. We continue talks on the joint surveillance of the border as part of the complex steps and measures mapped out last year that are being implemented one after the other.”

In turn, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu added:

“Let me thank Mr. Vigenin for the efforts regarding the border. In fact, we reviewed those issues during his visit to Turkey. These contacts in a very productive and working spirit will continue with talks between the interior ministers and other cabinet ministers. All necessary contacts will be made.”

What will be the benefits for Bulgaria from the Readmission Agreement and what are the urgent measures aimed to handle refugee flows until its ratification? Here is the commentary of MEP Andrey Kovatchev from the European People’s Party.

“At long last, this agreement has been concluded. It has been put off on a few occasions by Turkey as it is bound to the liberalization of the visa regime for Turkish nationals in EU member countries. The faster and more effectively it is enforced – and I hope that this period of 2 to 3 years until its enforcement will be shortened – the better for Bulgaria. After the approval of the agreement by the European Parliament, things will be up to Turkey. This implies that it should be ready to accept back persons violating the borders of its neighbors Bulgaria and Greece, persons from third countries such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, Syria or any other country in fact. Turkey has said it is not ready yet and that time is needed for that country to get prepared to take migrants back and identify their genuine status or country of origin. This is a very challenging process, as many migrants do not tell the truth about their circumstances and countries of origin. Bulgaria has done everything necessary and should continue to do so to be able to prevent illegal migration, especially when it occurs outside border checkpoints. So, in case the Bulgarian security services believe that there is a problem along long sections of the border they should work to prevent migration. More importantly, at the European level, Frontex, the EU external border agency, should receive more powers and financing to make sure that the EU works with solidarity for its external border protection. In this context, Bulgaria has the huge responsibility to protect the borders to the benefit not only of Bulgarian citizens but of all European citizens.”

English version: Daniela Konstantinova