site.btaInterior Minister Buchvarova: Bulgaria Insists on Common European Policy for Refugee Issues

Interior Minister Buchvarova: Bulgaria Insists on Common European Policy for Refugee Issues

Sofia, September 8 (BTA) - "There should be a clear and
categorical European policy on the refugee issue, one that
reflects our common European solidarity. We shall insist that it
 takes in consideration all aspects of the current situation and
 the peculiarities of each country", Deputy Prime Minister and
Interior Minister Roumyana Buchvarova said Tuesday. She was
speaking after a meeting with Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, the
 deputy prime ministers, the Foreign Minister and the Minister
of Finance focused on the principles of Bulgaria's position in
respect to the decisions expected by the EU in relation to the
rising number of immigrants to Europe.

Bulgaria will insist on alignment of national legislations in EU
 for much more severe penalties for human traffickers and a
common European prosecution. A specialized unit is being
established by the Interior Ministry and the prosecution  which
is to investigate the organisers of such networks with a
priority.

Bulgaria hails the efforts to update the measures in dealing
with migrant flows and the new common European policy regarding
the distribution and acceptance of refugees. It shares the
opinion that, in the first place, efforts should not cease to
find a solution to the crises in the countries which are the
source of migrant flows, the position of the Bulgarian
government says. The EU should find a solution that will lead to
 stopping the conflicts which threaten the life of these
countries' citizens. Bulgaria supports the idea of establishing
registration centres, not only in Greece and Italy, but first
and foremost on the territory of the countries of origin or
those around them. The solution of the problem should be sought
as near as possible to the place where it has originated,
Buchvarova said. Bulgaria will insist on a change to the Dublin
Regulation that may establish unified applications for
international asylum or discussion of common refugee status
valid throughout the EU. Bulgaria considers it necessary to see
an urgent list of countries of origin and an active and
effective policy of return. "We should admit that so far the
attempts to find a well working solution have not been
productive enough," the Deputy Prime Minister said. 

The quest for new and effective solutions should be speeded up
and that is why Bulgaria hails the convening of extraordinary
councils of ministers related to the problem.