24.06.2018
Bulgaria has proved that as a frontline country it can cope with refugee pressure, said Prime Minister Boyko Borissov in front of journalists in Brussels before the start of the working meeting on migration and asylum. The Prime Minister pointed out that the good results that Bulgaria has achieved in protecting the EU external border are due both to the good work of the Border Police and FRONTEX and to the agreement with Turkey.
Borissov stressed that both EU countries and Western Balkan countries should be protected. He reminded of the position of Bulgaria, which he will also reiterate at the meeting: immediate closure of EU external borders and border crossing only at border checkpoints, relocation of migrants already on EU territory and active use of the agreements with third countries.
The Bulgarian Prime Minister said Bulgaria has shown how our external border can be protected successfully and how to deal with the migration wave. He will insist as an EU Council Presidency that all Member States agree on the issue of migration.
The Prime Minister pointed out that Bulgaria, as a frontline country, together with Greece, Italy, and Spain, cannot agree with returning migrants who are already in Europe to the countries of first registration. This would aggravate the situation in these countries by conferring double responsibilities on them - border protection and care for refugees on their territory.
