Bulgaria Mulls Joint Migration-National Security Strategy

Bulgaria's Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov (l), was the keynote speaker during the forum dedicated to the country's new migration policy. Photo by BGNES

Bulgaria's Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, opened Friday a round table in the Sofia Hilton Hotel dedicated to the preparation of the country's migration strategy.

In his opening address, Tsvetanov pointed out this is the first such round table in Bulgaria, but would be followed by a number of meetings and debates regarding the preparation of a common migration policy.

According to the Minister, the emphasis is on aligning the above said strategy with the one for national security, making migration part of the policy that must guarantee the security of Bulgaria and its borders since the country is also the outside border of the EU.

Tsvetanov voiced his satisfaction from all preliminary meetings he held with experts on migration and the fact Bulgaria will be able to use Austrian and German practices.

Bulgaria, after its EU accession, became an important transit zone for migration streams, but with the upcoming 2011 Schengen zone entry it could turn into a place for migrants' permanent stay and residency, the Minister said, adding he hoped a treaty between the EU and Turkey would be finalized and signed in the next months over the increased influx of people from Turkey through Bulgaria to the EU Member States.

According to Tsvetanov, the migration policy must reflect a consensus among political parties and in the society and should become the strategy not only of the current cabinet, but of all governments to follow.

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