site.btaParliament Passes Conclusively Amendments to Asylum and Refugee Act

Parliament Passes Conclusively Amendments to Asylum and Refugee Act

Sofia, December 11 (BTA) - The competent authority must pronounce on an alien's application for international protection within 21 months after its submission, Bulgaria's Parliament resolved on Friday, passing conclusively amendments to the Asylum and Refugee Act.

The Chairperson of the State Agency for Refugees, in consultation with the Minister of Interior, may, where necessary, propose national lists of safe countries of origin and of safe third countries to the Council of Ministers for adoption.

When adopting the lists, the Council of Ministers, referring to sources of information from other EU Member States, the European Asylum Support Office, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the Council of Europe and other international organisations, shall take into account the degree to which a State offers protection against persecution and inhuman or degrading treatment by the relevant primary and secondary legislation.

Organisations and persons providing legal assistance to aliens seeking international protection shall have effective access to the aliens at the border checkpoints, including in the transit zones.

An alien who has submitted an application for international protection shall be registered at the State Agency for Refugees and shall have a personal file opened no later than three working days after the application has been submitted, the adopted amendments state.

The interviewing authority may request a medical examination of an alien with the consent thereof in relation to any possible traces of former persecution but a refusal to submit to such examination shall not be an obstacle to making a decision on the grant of asylum.