site.btaInterior Minister Buchvarova Participates in Justice and Home Affairs Council

Interior Minister Buchvarova Participates in Justice and Home Affairs  Council

Brussels, March 13 (BTA) - Deputy Prime Minister Roumyana
Buchvarova is in Brussels for her first visit abroad in the
capacity of Interior Minister. She took part in the regular
meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council on Thursday, the
Interior Ministry said.

The Council discussed the implementation of the measures
contained in the recent counter-terrorism statements issued
after the latest terrorist attacks in Europe. The ministers
agreed on the need of undertaking urgent action in four key
fields: reinforced application of the Schengen Framework,
combating radicalisation on the internet by setting up internet
referral capabilities, fighting the illicit trafficking of
firearms and stepping up information sharing and operational
cooperation.

Addressing the Council, Buchvarova underscored the importance of
border control and Bulgaria's contribution in guarding one of
the most important external borders of the EU, particularly its
role in guaranteeing the internal security of the Union. She
also spoke of the need to undertake legislative and operational
measures against the trafficking of firearms in order to reduce
the circulation of illegal weapons on the territory of the EU.

Deputy PM Buchvarova also spoke of the significance of
geographical balance in the application of measures to contain
migration pressure. There should also be a constant focus on
maritime borders and the external land borders of the EU in one
of the most frequently used routes, that of the Eastern
Mediterranean, she said, also insisting on increasing
cooperation with Turkey.

On the sidelines of her participation in the Council, Buchvarova
had a bilateral meeting with the German Minister of the
Interior Thomas de Maiziere.