site.btaEC Says It Has Means, Will and Rules to Support Bulgaria in Protecting Borders

EC Says It Has Means, Will and Rules to Support Bulgaria in Protecting Borders

Brussels, September 15 (BTA Correspondent Nikolay Jeliazkov) - The European Commission (EC) has always been ready to support Bulgaria, just as it has helped other countries along the EU's external border deal with the refugee crisis, said here on Thursday an EC Spokesperson at a news conference. The Commission has means, a will and rules. The sum to be provided will become clear after the needs are established, he added.

EC President Jean-Claude Juncker paid special attention to this question in his Wednesday speech before the European Parliament. The Commission is ready to help Bulgaria and all others who must deal with border protection and the influx of migrants, the Spokesperson said.

He noted that Juncker has been in constant touch with Prime Minister Boyko Borissov in recent weeks. The Commission's experts assess the specific needs on site and must indicate the financial assistance that can be provided under the EU's budget for home affairs. The EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dimitris Avramopoulos, is personally involved in this matter, while employees of the relevant directorate general are currently in Bulgaria, the Spokesperson explained.

He said that 173 Frontex officers have been deployed to Bulgaria starting this week, 120 of whom are along the border with Turkey and the rest at the border with Serbia. Additional reinforcements of personnel and equipment will be sent, including land vehicles and aircraft. A total of 91 million euro for such purposes are provided in the EU budget until 2020. An additional 12 million euro in the form of urgent assistance have been ensured. The Commission has not yet received an official request from the Bulgarian authorities for the provision of financial assistance and the question is currently being discussed, the EC Spokesperson said.