site.btaBulgarian EU Council Presidency to Prioritize Migration Processes Management

Sofia, October 24 (BTA) - In the area of home affairs, the Bulgarian Presidency of the EU Council will prioritize enhancement of EU citizens' security and a more effective management of migration processes with a focus on sending a larger number of people back to their countries of origin, Bulgarian Deputy Interior Minister Krassimir Tsipov said here on Tuesday, addressing a conference on the refugee crisis and the development of migration processes.

The event was organized by the Citizens Association for the European Development of Bulgaria (CAEDB), the Hanns Seidel Foundation and the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies.

Progress on the Common European Asylum System and on the Dublin Regulations is expected to be reached during the Bulgarian Presidency.

"We are responsible for the security of one of the most sensitive EU borders, and we are following closely the implementation of surveillance systems," Tsipov said. "Utmost efforts are being made to absorb the financial resources provided by the EU for strengthening the capacity of the Border Police."

"At present, the worst migration threat to us originates from Turkey," said Border Police Deputy Director Stoyan Ivanov. He stressed that illegal migrants regard Bulgaria above all as a transit country, and most refugees try to cross from Bulgaria into Serbia. That is why the country receives assistance from Frontex and some 50 officers of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency are deployed on the border with Serbia now.

"Thanks to the efforts of the State and of the EU, we are no longer talking about a refugee crisis but about a lasting and long-term solution to the problem, which requires just as hard work," said Sofia Mayor and CAEDB Chair Yordanka Fandakova. She noted that what matters now are policies of taking care of unaccompanied children and their integration and education. So far 130 children have submitted applications for international protection and attend school.

National Assembly Internal Security and Public Order Committee Chairman and GERB Party Deputy Chairman Tsvetan Tsvetanov said that the Western Balkans can be enlisted for EU migration policies during the Bulgarian Presidency. He also commented that Europe proved unprepared for the refugee crisis and the migration flows. "To meet the Schengen criteria, we built a capacity of some 1,300 beds for possible flows," he recalled. "Until 2012, an average 1,000 persons annually entered Bulgaria, and in 2013 the migrant pressure approximated 10,000. This required policies that posed a challenge to the State." Tsvetanov noted the lack of coordination with the non-governmental sector. "Now that the Balkan Route has been closed, the Bulgarian authorities' concern is that the refugees may return to Bulgaria and try to re-enter Europe via Macedonia and Serbia," Tsvetanov said.

He also highlighted a legislative amendment passed by the 43rd National Assembly which made it possible for the armed forces to guard the border. Tsvetanov expects a calmer situation at the Bulgarian border during the winter and noted the abrupt decline of the refugee flow in this country since the beginning of 2017.

According to official data, the refugee centres are now filled at 20 per cent of capacity.