site.btaPM Borissov Comments on Brexit, Migration Ahead of EU Summit in Brussels

PM Borissov Comments on Brexit, Migration Ahead of EU Summit in Brussels

Brussels, June 22 (BTA Correspondent Nikolay Jeliazkov) - "The nearer the UK's withdrawal from the EU approaches, the more I wish that it would not happen," Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov told Bulgarian journalists upon arrival for the European Council meeting in Brussels on Thursday. He notes, though, that this is likely to be the most talked about topic during the Bulgarian Presidency of the EU Council in the first half of 2018.

"We have been discussing this for quite a long time, but no one seems to be aware of the damage it will inflict on both the UK and the EU. Neither side benefits from a divorce," the PM commented.

Bulgaria is ready to apply to host the two London-based EU agencies, Borissov said, referring to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the European Banking Authority (EBA). Taking a question, he specified that they could be accommodated in Sofia or Plovdiv.

"In my opinion, the most pragmatic solution about defence is for the EU to join NATO as a collective member. In such case, the financial resources would be pooled together, and it would be determined who needs aircraft, ships or land forces," Borissov reasoned.

"The EU-Turkey agreement is efficient and provides advantages. As long as Turkey is our partner, it will be halting the huge refugee wave. I will keep on saying that the complete sealing of the EU borders, including along the Mediterranean, whatever efforts it may take, would be far cheaper than what would happen in Europe afterwards," the Bulgarian head of government observed.

"My insistence that the security zones should be moved outside the EU, in Libyan and even Syrian territory, so that the people would stay there, even if we have to pay for this, seemed heretical in the past. However, it would be a fraction of the cost we would incur if they come to Europe, with all the horror that I see in Brussels (God forbid): soldiers everywhere, armoured trucks, machine guns in the heart of Europe," Borissov argued.

Regarding the amendments that are being drafted to the Dublin Regulation, the Prime Minister commented that even the migrants who are subject to return to the countries where they have entered the EU do not want to stay in the countries to which they are returned. "We detain the same people 20 to 30 times at the border with Serbia after having caught and returned them before that. Now, it is no longer heretical and everyone agrees with me that moving the security zones [outside the EU] would be far better for all," Borissov added.