/ world today news/ The construction of three new refugee centers and the transformation of one transit center are part of the commitments made by the Borisov cabinet against receiving European aid for border protection.
This was stated in the studio of “This Morning” by the newly elected Vice President of the Republic of Bulgaria – Iliyana Yotova, citing her information on the EC’s official response to her parliamentary question. It is also understood from the EC’s response that the 160 million euros of aid announced by the resigned prime minister is not actually 160, but 112, of which 10% is national co-financing. Most of the money goes to communication equipment and other equipment, but 19 million is specifically for the centers.
According to Iliana Yotova, “Harmanli can happen again at any moment” and it is very important to clarify what other foreign policy commitments the government has made. “During the campaign, it was said that we were playing with people’s fears,” recalled Yotova and asked why the location and date of opening of the objects was not one of the topics of the CSNS. According to her, there is a risk that the next government will find itself in a situation where the country has made commitments that it cannot fulfill. According to Iliyana Yotova, the CSNS was conducted according to protocol, and the decisions on the way out of the political crisis were then taken in private parallel meetings in residences.
Asked to comment on the domestic political situation, Yotova said that she could no longer deal with this type of politics and spoke as a member of the BSP in resignation. However, she said she is confident that when the BSP gets the mandate, it will return it. “BSP should not take the mandate, any attempt to form a government within this parliament will be agony. This parliament is exhausted and cannot muster a stable majority.” Yotova shared her personal opinion that a government made up of right-wing and left-wing parties does not work, pointing to Germany as an example, where there are indications that if Merkel’s party wins next year’s elections, it will turn to the Greens, not the GRSDP.
Iliana Yotova defined herself as a “left-wing person”, but she was adamant that she would not be a “conductor of party orders”. “National interests are protected in the presidency, we will not follow party orders. Gen. Radev and I are a team, and if I have to form an office, I will help him. For all 27 years, there were two types of relationship between the president and the vice president – either they had a serious conflict or they did not remember the name of the vice president. Gen. Radev and I will show that there is a third way.”
Question with request for written answer P-007062/2016
to the Commission
Article 130 of the Rules of Procedure
Iliana Iotova (S&D)
Re: Money allocated to Bulgaria at Council meeting in Bratislava to deal with migration pressure at the EU’s external border
The EU Council in Bratislava (September 16) decided that 108 million euros will be allocated to Bulgaria to deal with migratory pressure along the EU’s external border. The EC later announced that the money would come as emergency aid from the Internal Security and Refugee Funds, and additional efforts would be made to bring the total amount up to 160 million euros.
The EC states that the money will not be allocated for the construction of fences, but will finance the implementation of projects to manage migration pressure. In what direction should the projects for the use of the money be drawn up?
Has Bulgaria made commitments at the meeting in Bratislava to build migrant accommodation centers on its territory with the allocated 108 million euros?
BG
P-007062/2016
Answer from Mr. Avramopoulos
on behalf of the Commission
(30.11.2016)
On 16 September 2016, the Commission provided funding of a maximum amount of EUR 108 million to Bulgaria to cover three emergency grants. After some adjustments during the grant signing process, the final EU financial contribution was set at €101 million. Bulgaria will provide co-financing in the amount of 10%, which will bring the total amount to 112 million euros.
The grant agreements, co-financed by the Internal Security Fund (€82.2 million), aim to support addressing migration pressures and increase the capacity of integrated surveillance, communication and information systems in Bulgaria. In this regard, EU support will focus on the provision of vehicles and systems for monitoring Bulgaria’s external land borders.
The additional 18.9 million euros from the “Asylum, Migration and Integration” fund are aimed at providing support for the creation of three new open crisis accommodation centers in Bulgaria, for the improvement of reception conditions, for the modernization and renovation of one transit center, as well as for additional information and reintegration measures.
The Commission is currently in constant contact with the Bulgarian authorities in order to help address any additional needs.
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