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Sofia updates its position on the refugee crisis

The European Union continues to deal with the refugee problem. On its last sitting the European Council discussed a plan for possible establishment of a new European structure for border protection. In case of emergency situations along the EU external borders that structure could react with its teams and resources and act to its own discretion, without having to consult with given EU member states. The idea about the establishment of a joint border protection structure has been discussed at a high level by the EU member states for over fifteen years now. However, no progress has been registered until recently, because some states raised objections regarding the protection of their national borders by other structures. Now, however, the idea was proposed in a situation of unprecedented refugee pressure towards Europe and the main initiative came from Europe’s biggest countries such as Germany and France. The idea may be fulfilled in the next six months. Bulgaria already expressed its stand. Premier Boyko Borissov backed the idea, saying that Bulgaria has been dealing successfully with the migratory pressure over its borders on its own, but if some EU member states are struggling to cope with the refugee crisis, they should receive foreign help. Bulgaria would not mind if the new structure is given the right to deport illegal immigrants. Moreover, Sofia has been insisting for a long time that some of the migrants who left their home countries for economic reasons in search of a better life standard should be repatriated. In Brussels Premier Borissov insisted that those who look for a better life should be regarded as economic migrants. Boyko Borissov defended his thesis with the argument that each nation is obliged to make life better in its own country. Meanwhile, however, Bulgaria is categorically against possible reduction of EU funds to countries which receive less migrants or which refuse to receive and accommodate such. Premier Borissov underlined that so far Sofia has not raised the issue about the hundreds of millions of Euros spent on border protection and that it has been safeguarding these borders, in order to fulfill its duty to the European Union. According to the recently proposed immigrant quotas, Bulgaria has to receive over 1,300 immigrants on its territory. In fact, Bulgaria is now ready to receive these people, but the immigrants are not interested in settling on its territory. 

English: Kostadin Atanasov


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