site.btaAustria's Federal Ministers of Interior, Defence Visit Bulgaria

Austria's Federal Ministers of Interior, Defence Visit Bulgaria

Sofia, March 12 (BTA) - Bulgaria strictly applies all regulations of the EU and the Schengen area aimed at managing the migration pressure, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said during his meeting with Austria's Federal Minister of the Interior Johanna Mikl-Leitner and Federal Minister of Defence and Sports Hans Peter Doskozil, the Government Information Service said Saturday.

An Austrian delegation led by the two federal ministers arrived on an official visit to Bulgaria Saturday.

According to Borissov, it is important for all countries on the front line of the refugee wave to be able to rely on the European Union's support for the protection of the EU external borders. He noted that, given the measures related to the migration flow that are set in the Bulgarian national plan, Bulgaria has informed the European Commission about the country's additional needs. In his words, Bulgaria would highly appreciate support also by Austria.

The PM said that, although no new trends in the migration flow are being observed, Bulgaria is undertaking preparations for timely actions if necessary. All measures are being taken and the readiness of the services at the border is being strengthened in terms of resources and organization, he went on to say.

Borissov also acquainted the Austrian ministers with his position expressed in his letter sent to European Council President Donald Tusk on Friday, in which the Bulgarian PM insist that the EU provide for the protection of all external borders with Turkey. Borissov added that he expects his positionto be taken into consideration during the preparation of the conclusions for the forthcoming meeting of EU heads of state and
government.

Later on Saturday, Interior Minister Roumyana Buchvarova and Defence Minister Nikolay Nenchev took the guests to the Border Police Regional Directorate in Elhovo. They were acquainted with the actions undertaken by Bulgaria to protect its border with Turkey, saw the border fence and observed the joint work of the border police and the Armed Forces troops.

Speaking at a briefing at Bourgas Airport, Austrian Federal Minister of Defence and Sports Doskozil said that closing the Balkan migratory route is the rightist decision to make, no matter that there are voices in Europe who say otherwise. The guest stressed the importance of the proper protection of the external borders of Europe and the fights against the illegal trafficking in humans and people smugglers.

Doskozil congratulated the Bulgarian Government on the measures it has undertaken to protect the Bulgarian-Turkish border. He noted the importance of aiding the countries who are at the external border of Europe, for example, Bulgaria and Macedonia. In the words of the Austrian Minister, the debate in Europe, and the rules that are applied towards Greece should also apply to Bulgaria.

Buchvarova said that the security of the external borders of the EU is an important condition for reducing the migratory flow. She said that if Bulgaria had not built in time the fence at the border with Turkey, the migratory pressure would have been precisely there.

Austria's Federal Minister of the Interior Mikl-Leitner said that the main goal is to stem the uncontrolled flow of refugees via Europe. She said that a conference is being organized of senior defence and police officials where representatives of all countries affected by the Balkan migratory routes will be invited. She said that these countries can be supported in a number of key aspects: ensuring border security, stable cooperation, and assistance in detecting forged IDs of people crossing borders.