Bulgaria to Accept 500 Refugees in 2 Years under New EU Voluntary Scheme

Syrian refugees take a boat to reach Greek Island Lesvos at Green Harbour Beach near Behramkale, coastal district of Ayvacik, Canakkale, Turkey, 17 July 2015. Photo by EPA/BGNES

Bulgaria will receive 500 refugees currently residing in other countries over the next two years, according to Interior Minister Rumyana Bachvarova.

Speaking Monday after a meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council, she made clear that Bulgaria had sought a special statute, opposing the quota of 788 proposed in May.

Bachvarova, as cited by the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency, claimed that the arguments of the Bulgarian government had been heard, adding that the authorities had managed to downsize the initial quota of refugees to be received both under the relocation and resettlement plans of the EU by around 33%.

She assured that Bulgaria had also managed to state its support, solidarity, and readiness to help the worst hit countries.

Bulgaria’s Interior Minister said that the method of selection of refugees to come to Bulgaria was yet to be determined.

She noted that the first group of refugees was to arrive in autumn at the earliest as there were some administrative and technical preparations to be completed first.

On July 20 EU foreign ministers agreed to relocate 32 256 Syrian and Eritrean asylum seekers from Italy and Greece (down from the initial target of 40 000) and to settle 22 504 refugees directly from countries of origin or transit (up from the initial target of 20 000), according to reports of Bloomberg.

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