site.btaPM Borissov: Bulgaria Has not Been Offered Bilateral Agreements to Take Back Migrants

Brussels, June 28 (BTA correspondent Nikolay Jeliazkov) - Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said here Thursday that Bulgaria has not been offered any bilateral agreements to take back migrants. Borissov was speaking to Bulgarian reporters ahead of a European Council here on June 28-29. He said that Bulgaria, which has had the rotating EU Presidency in the first half of 2018, has offered a compromise on migration and the majority of member states are supportive of it. "My question to those who do not support it, is what other plan they have," he said in the corridors of the European Council headquarters.

He explained that Bulgaria has offered introduction of a three-level system for early warning for upcoming migrant waves - similar to the colour-coded warnings for adverse weather, which would trigger external border protection measures, establishment of platforms or remote centres for migrants outside the EU and secondary relocation of migrants across the EU.

Borissov believes that the migration problem can be resolved with adequate funding. "I will insist that my colleagues from Italy and Austria support us in making sure the agreement with Turkey works well. Several days ago, as I spoke to President Recep Erdogan, he said that so far there has been only talk of the agreement and nothing has been paid [to Turkey] or at least most of the amount due has not," said he.

He argued that financing the agreement with Turkey is important for the outcome of talks on migration with non-EU countries. "So far Turkey has fully met its commitment to Bulgaria under this agreement," he added.

Commenting the expiring Bulgarian Presidency of the EU Council, Borissov said that "everybody has been saying, including during the meeting of the European People's Party leaders, that this has been one of the most successful presidencies and that a huge amount of work has been done".

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By 15:22 on 01.08.2024 Today`s news

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