site.bta Bulgaria Must Be Able to Return Migrants to Turkey, Just Like Greece - Interior Minister Buchvarova

Bulgaria Must Be Able to Return Migrants to Turkey, Just Like Greece - Interior Minister Buchvarova

Brussels, March 10 (BTA Correspondent Nikolay Jeliazkov) - Bulgaria asked to be able to return to Turkey migrants who have crossed the border illegally, just like Greece will be if the agreement between the EU and Ankara is adopted, said here on Thursday Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Roumyana Buchvarova, who took part in the European Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting.

The interior ministers of the 28 EU Member States are discussing progress on the measures, which stemmed from the European Council meeting with Turkey, as well as the decisions concerning migration processes and the fight against illegal human trafficking and terrorism.

"I raised the question that if we want to guarantee the EU's external borders, we must apply the same measures along the Bulgarian-Turkish border as on the Turkish-Greek border. I was met with approval and understanding by the colleagues regarding this," Buchvarova said. She voiced hope that this possibility be included in the final text of the agreement with Turkey.

Everyone is aware of the dangers for Bulgaria, Albania and Italy from the development of new routes after the borders across the Balkans are closed. The common view is that no one would have an interest in the emergence of an alternative route, she added.

The Interior Minister insisted that Bulgaria receives support from the EU commensurable with the one provided to Greece, in the event the migrant routes change. She said that Bulgaria has presented and a motivated request for receiving additional border protection aid, consisting of additional surveillance equipment and assistance in the event emergency action is needed. "We are waiting for the European Commission's reaction," she said, adding that requests for assistance have been made to many other countries on a bilateral basis. No country would be able to cope alone in the event of extreme pressure along its borders, Buchvarova concluded, explaining that the Bulgarian authorities are prepared with plans for the different scenarios.

The Interior Minister said that Bulgaria has the capacity to accommodate people in existing facilities if the migration pressure increases significantly. She explained that currently such facilities are full at just ten per cent capacity. The places for the construction of possible new centres have been designated as well.

According to Buchvarova, stopping human trafficking networks on Turkish territory should be set as a condition in the agreement with Turkey. She explained that according to Europol data, close to 90 per cent of migrants coming to Europe have been assisted by organized networks.