site.bta Bulgaria's Chief Diplomat Mitov: "EU Must Not Allow Opening of New Migration Routes"

Bulgaria's Chief Diplomat Mitov: "EU Must Not Allow Opening of New Migration Routes"

Brussels, May 24 (BTA) - The external aspects of migration, measures to address the root causes of the migration crisis and strengthening cooperation with the countries of origin and transit topped the agenda of a EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels on Monday with the participation of Bulgarian Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov, Mitov's Ministry said in a press release on Tuesday.

"Only a common European approach reckoning with the positions of all Member States could achieve an effective lasting solution to the migration crisis. The first-line countries must be able to rely on support from the EU so as to manage and protect the Union's external border rather than be left to seek solutions of their own," Mitov said, addressing his counterparts.

The chief Bulgarian diplomat noted the positive results achieved in the implementation of the EU-Turkey statement but at the same time stressed that the complexity of the situation calls for planning to act in unexpected circumstances so as to prevent the reopening of old migration routes to the EU and the opening of new ones.