site.btaEuropean Commission Provides EUR 108 Mln in Urgent Border Security Aid to Bulgaria, Another 52 Mln Coming Up

European Commission Provides EUR 108 Mln in Urgent Border Security Aid to Bulgaria, Another 52 Mln Coming Up

Bratislava/Sofia, September 17 (BTA) - An informal European Council meeting in Bratislava on September 16 decided that the bloc will provide 108 million euro in urgent border management and migration control aid to Bulgaria, but according to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, the intention is to increase that funding to 160 million euro, as requested by Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov. Necessary steps will be taken in the coming days to secure the funding, Juncker told journalists in Bratislava in Borissov's presence, as quoted by the Bulgarian government's press service.

Following his statement, on September 17 the European Commission announced that it was providing 108 million euro in border security aid to Bulgaria as a result of unceasing contacts with Sofia in recent months and would urgently consider Bulgaria's additional request for another 52 million euro. Dimitris Avramopoulos, European Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, said the Commission has been supporting all EU member states to deal with the migration crisis and Bulgaria is no exception. Avramopoulos praised Bulgaria's efforts in protecting the EU's external border. The fact that Sofia's aid request was processed so rapidly shows that the Commission is ready to provide additional aid when needed and that Bulgaria, as an external-border country, is given full support, he said.

The money will go towards handling migrant flows, improving the capacity of the agencies working with refugees, and enhancing border surveillance and control.

The European Commission recalled that the EU had been providing financial and operative aid to Bulgaria for some time. A total of 173 officers of the EU border security agency Frontex are in the country upon an end-July request. The Commission earlier approved 12 million euro in urgent additional aid to Sofia to tackle the refugee crisis. It was targeted at providing shelter, food and medicines to arriving refugees and equipment to the border police. Besides that, the country has access to 91 million euro for migration management and for protecting the EU's external border between 2014 and 2020, the Commission said.

Juncker noted in his remarks in Bratislava that the aid will be provided in two tranches. He said Bulgaria will not be left alone, thanks to the vigorous efforts of Prime Minister Borissov. He observed that over the last few weeks he and Borissov have been discussing the situation and the steps that should be taken. Juncker recalled that in a statement on Wednesday he urged Frontex to send 200 officers to Bulgaria, and added that money should be provided immediately for the supply of vehicles to the Bulgarian border.

Borissov thanked the European Council for its support, noting that this is a clear acknowledgment for the good work his country has done. Borissov said: "As far as I remember, Bulgaria has never before been singled out in a separate decision and named as the sole beneficiary of targeted aid. I am glad that we all have the desire and the ambition to respond to populism and nationalism."

The Prime Minister went on to say: "There is no better place to live in than Europe. Today, I saw a desire and an ambition in my colleagues to make Europe an even better place. Bulgaria has set an example that after a problem is identified, we can get the European Commission to act promptly."

According to Borissov, Bulgaria is financially able to secure necessary equipment, but European solidarity and his colleagues' assessment are more important than that. He quoted Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka as saying earlier on September 16 that Bulgaria must be encouraged, because it has already done a good job.