site.btaBulgarian PM Borissov Briefs Hungarian PM Orban on Bulgaria's Position on Migration

Sofia, June 22 (BTA) - In a telephone conversation on Friday, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov familiarized his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban with the position which he will present at the informal working meeting on migration and asylum issues in Brussels on Sunday, the Government Information Service said.

Borissov insists on the immediate closure of the EU external borders and strict control of those entering the Union, including at the internal borders. This will require urgent aid for the front-line countries in the form of equipment, financing and reinforced FRONTEX presence.

The Bulgarian head of government furthermore proposes the setting up of crisis centres for the reception of refugees outside the territory of Europe. Applications should be examined at such centres, and those in real need of protection should be identified. According to Borissov, the EU needs to provide financial and technological support to the countries which will host such centres.

The PM will insist on an analysis of the migrant flows which have already arrived and reside in Europe. Those in need of protection must be differentiated from the economic migrants, and distinct policies towards the two groups must be implemented. In Borissov's words, Member States must assume responsibility both for protection-seeking refugees and for measures to ensure that they will be able to return to their native countries after the end of the conflicts there.

The Prime Minister is of the opinion that irregular migrants who do not need protection must be returned without undue delay to their country of origin or to the last safe third country from which they crossed into EU territory. This will require political efforts to conclude readmission agreements with the third countries concerned.

During the telephone conversation, Orban briefed his Bulgarian counterpart of Thursday's meeting of the Visegrad Four with Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz. The Hungarian leader assured Borissov of his unqualified support for the position on an immediate border closure and setting up of centres for migrants. Orban said that Hungary and the rest of the Visegrad Group remain opposed to the mandatory relocation of migrants.

The Bulgarian PM said that Bulgaria, as a front-line country along with Greece, Italy and Spain, cannot agree to the return of migrants from the rest of Europe to the front-line countries and this position has to be updated.