site.btaPrime Minister Says Refugee Wave Should Be Dealt With At Its Source

Prime Minister Says Refugee Wave Should Be Dealt With At Its Source

Varna, on the Black Sea, August 30 (BTA) - Prime Minister Boyko
Borissov said on Sunday that unless the refugee wave is dealt
with at its source, nothing good awaits Europe. Borissov said he
 was referring to the destabilized countries of Africa and the
Arab world.

Asked by a journalist whether this could be achieved with
external aid, he said this is up to the "big leaders of the
world" to decide. "This is beyond our powers. We only have to
bear the consequences, which will be getting ever worse," he
said.

European Parliament Vice President Antonio Tajani, who was with
Borissov in Varna for a summer university of the youth chapter
of Borissov's GERB party, said he supports Bulgaria's bid to
join the Schengen border-free area.

Tajani said the Islamic State is a much bigger threat than
al-Qaeda, and the fight against it requires a European strategy
aligned with the United Nations agenda.

Bulgaria needs far stronger financial support because it is an
external EU border, Tajani said.

Discussing the absorption of EU aid, Borissov said Bulgaria's
absorption rate is between 92 and 93 per cent.

Borissov said he and his ministers will stay out of the campaign
 for the October 25 local elections. He hopes for a campaign
governed by tolerance. "Let the best ones win," he added.