site.btaCaretaker PM Glavchev in Brussels: "External Migrant Centres Are Not a Bad Idea"

Caretaker Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev said he would present data on the migration pressure on Bulgaria at the European Council meeting on Thursday. He told Bulgarian journalists that the idea of setting up migration centres outside the EU was not a bad one.

Glavchev noted that Bulgaria recorded a 70% drop in illegal migration attempts compared to 2023 and a threefold increase in the number of detainees. "This indicates a trend; I think this will be accounted for," he added. Glavchev pointed to Bulgaria's good cooperation with Turkiye in guarding EU external borders. In his words, Bulgaria could negotiate with Turkiye on the possibility of externalization of migration centres. The Turkish side guards well against an influx of migrants, the prime minister added.

According to him, a decision on the abolition of checks at the Schengen land borders of Bulgaria and Romania can be expected in December. The prime minister conceded that it was possible that progress could be made even before the date of the next meeting of European interior ministers, scheduled for December 12.

On occasion of Wednesday's meeting on Corridor 8 in Brussels, Glavchev pointed out that Bulgaria is welcomed in EU formats because its positions are predictable and constant. We had the opportunity to discuss Corridor 8 in Berlin, where Italy raised the issue quite seriously. We take the position that this is a very important corridor to build, the prime minister said. He noted that Romania also wants to join and this increases the strategic importance of the corridor. No one doubts that it should be built as quickly as possible, Glavchev summarised.

Responding to a question about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's victory plan, the prime minister expressed his expectation that this would still be discussed. Our position has not changed, as a caretaker government we stick to the decisions of the National Assembly, Glavchev explained.

On the issue of the situation in the Middle East, he noted that everyone in the EU is very restrained. Bulgaria's position is that there should be restraint and de-escalation, to move to diplomatic means, the prime minister added.