site.btaDemocrats for Strong Bulgaria:"Liberalized Aliens Act Poses Risk to National Security"

Democrats for Strong Bulgaria: "Liberalized Aliens Act Poses Risk to National Security"

Sofia, June 28 (BTA) - In a position circulated to the media on Tuesday, the Democrats for Strong Bulgaria (DSB) Party warns that the liberalization of the Aliens in the Republic of Bulgaria Act, approved by Parliament on first reading on June 15, poses a risk to national security.

"We cannot help being concerned that persons involved in criminal networks, trafficking operations, agitators for dangerous ideologies, purveyors of existing conflicts from other parts or the world to Bulgarian territory or exponents of undue influence of foreign powers may benefit from the liberalization of the Bulgarian law," the right-wing party reasons.

One of the amendments passed decreases by a factor of 6, from 600,000 leva to 100,000 leva, the value of immovable property that entitles an alien to apply for a permanent resident status in Bulgaria, DSB recalls. "This means that practically any national of a non-EU Member State, who purchases a bedsitter in Bulgaria, has grounds to seek a permanent resident status in this country and apply for a Bulgarian personal document with all rights attached to that, as well as for a EU long-term residence permit," the position reads.

"The Government-proposed amendment to the law, facilitating the granting of permanent resident status to people outside the EU no longer on the basis of substantial investments generating an economic product and creating jobs but merely on the strength of possessing a single immovable property, poses a direct risk to national security and to the personal safety of Bulgarian citizens," the party warns.

The position says that between an estimated 350,000 to 500,000 Russian citizens alone own real estate in Bulgaria, mostly along the Black Sea coast and in Eastern Bulgaria. Besides them, Ukrainians, nationals of other Balkan countries and Arab countries in the Middle East have purchased properties over the last ten years.