NEWS

Together with other countries on the EU's external borders, our country can initiate a change in European migration policy, says Iliana Iotova

 

Bulgaria is definitely one of the safest destinations in many respects. There are no threats due to conflicts – both in Europe and in the Middle East. Everyone is welcome here and will find both the peace needed for a vacation and good conditions. This was stated by President Iliana Iotova to journalists.

 

Asked to comment on the migrant crisis in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, the head of state pointed out, that Bulgaria currently has some of the most secure borders within the European Union. We are also an external border of the union and we must be very careful together with our European partners for security, she pointed out.

 

The president recalled that what happened in Ceuta is not a precedent. Many years ago, there were similar incidents in Spain and the then government started building walls, which is why it was threatened by the European Union with a court in Luxembourg for violating human rights, Iotova said.

 

The President criticised the European migration policy. Three years ago, the EU adopted the Migration Pact, and today, in practice, not only is it not being implemented, it is being denied by many European leaders. Since 2016, I have been arguing that this is not a winning migration policy. The Dublin Agreement has long been obsolete, now the texts in the Migration Pact not only did not eliminate these texts, which are ineffective and harmful, but also deepened them, emphasised Iliana Iotova.

 

The head of state stated that Bulgaria, together with countries on the EU's external borders such as Malta, Spain, Italy, and Greece, could form an alliance to change this policy. Western European countries are also ready for change, Iotova pointed out.