Migrant wave and protection of EU’s external borders top the agenda of meetings of Minister Mitov in New York
20 September 2016 News
The migration crisis and the protection of EU’s external borders dominated the agenda of the first day of the 71st Session of the UN General Assembly in New York. The leaders of the UN Member States adopted the so called New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Daniel Mitov and Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Rumiana Bachvarova held a meeting with the European Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs, and Citizenship, Dimitris Avramopoulos, and the three welcomed the adoption of the declaration.
Minister Mitov emphasized that the document includes the Bulgarian position on the obligations of the states to work together on signing a readmission agreement. “This is the essence of our efforts at the moment and it can be considered as a basis for the future integration process in Europe. We start a project that takes into account our vision of the integrity of Europe with external borders, which must be managed and controlled by joint efforts of all EU countries”, Minister Daniel Mitov said. He added that the security of the external borders is essential for all in the heart of Europe.
In his statement, Minister Mitov pointed out that it is necessary to focus the EU and UN efforts on implementing the legal framework on migration.
“Bulgaria plays a very important role in dealing with the migration process and the protection of EU’s external borders. In this complicated situation your country is not alone, Europe stands beside it and provides technical, financial and expert assistance”, the European Commissioner for Migration Dimitris Avramopoulos said. According to him, the opening of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency on October 6th in Bulgaria opens a new chapter of more effective management of the European borders. Dimitris Avramopoulos welcomed the good cooperation with the Bulgarian government and its effective efforts to handle the situation.
The Deputy Prime Minister Rumiana Bachvarova emphasized that the decision to start the new European Border and Coast Guard Agency in Bulgaria is not merely a success for our country, but also a success for the European solidarity. “The fact that Bulgaria is part of the new positive decisions is extremely important for us”, she said. Rumiana Bachvarova expressed the Bulgarian position, that there is a need for common decisions and cooperation between the states. “Each decision should consist the humanitarian and the organizational aspects of this process, while respecting the rights of the migrants,” she said.