site.bta Parliament Ratifies EU Trust Fund Agreement to Address Root Causes of Migration

Parliament Ratifies EU Trust Fund Agreement to Address Root Causes of Migration

Sofia, February 12 (BTA) - Parliament Friday ratified the Agreement to launch an EU Trust Fund focused on stability and addressing the root causes of migration and transit in Africa. The document was signed at the La Valletta Summit on November 12, 2015. 

The objective is to establish a trust fund to address the migration challenges resulting from the crises in Africa with contributions by member-states and other untraditional donors. Priority spheres of the Valletta Action Plan are dealing with the root causes of destabilisation, migrant smuggling and forced displacement.

The fund is established for a period until December 31, 2020, with Bulgaria contribution amounting to 50,000 euro provided from the budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to the Agreement, each donor contribution is made after the signing of a certificate attesting to it.

The Bulgarian Socialist Party - Left Bulgaria wanted postponement of the debates on the ratification with the arguments that Parliament cannot sign a blank cheque and that Bulgaria yet again is trying to align itself with more developed countries without getting sufficient attention.

Foreign Ministry Permanent Secretary Vassilii Takev explained that in La Valletta Bulgaria joined the formatting of such a policy to address the roots of the crisis and help in certain localities, instead of migration pressure approaching the borders. This is a voluntary fund, he said, and no one obligates this country to participate in subsequent stages of the process.

The Chair of the parliamentary Foreign Policy Committee, Dzhema Grozdanova, explained that this is a matter of voluntary contribution to establish the EU fund. The next contributions will be determined by Bulgaria according to its capacity. There was a motion to participate with 3 million euro to have the right to vote, but now the country will make the minimum contribution of 50,000 euro, she added.