site.btaBulgaria Has Partially Implemented Recommendations by European Commission against Racism and Intolerance

Bulgaria Has Partially Implemented Recommendations by European Commission against Racism and Intolerance

Brussels/Strasbourg, May 16 (BTA) - Council of Europe's anti-racism commission (ECRI) on Tuesday published its conclusions on the implementation by Bulgaria of priority recommendations, set out in 2014.

In its 2014 report on Bulgaria, ECRI strongly recommended that the authorities urgently organise an awareness - raising campaign promoting a positive image of and tolerance for asylum seekers and refugees and ensuring that the public understands the need for international protection.

ECRI notes that the situation for asylum seekers and refugees has not improved since then and that organised anti - migrant protests have sparked tensions between local residents and refugees.

ECRI concludes, therefore, that its recommendation has not been implemented and in view of the high levels of intolerance for asylum seekers and refugees in Bulgaria, it calls upon the authorities to take urgent action.

Another recommendation was that the Commission for Protection against Discrimination should produce and publish information about discrimination, and explain the procedures for discrimination complaints, in a variety of languages used in the country and disseminate it widely. Overall, ECRI considers that its recommendation has been partially implemented.