Juncker pledges £92.4m handout to Bulgaria to control migrant flow and woo Eastern Europe
EU BOSSES have agreed hand over €108million (£92.4million) to Bulgaria as emergency funding to help it protect its borders against an increasing flow of illegal migrants and refugees.
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More than 1.1 million people fleeing conflict and poverty in the Middle East and Africa arrived in Europe over the last, mostly coming via Turkey to Greece, but Bulgaria says migrant flows through its territory have been on the rise since June and has resorted to constructing fences along its borders.
EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said: ”Bulgaria is facing a very serious problem.
Juncker to post 200 officers to Bulgaria's border with Turkey
A vast fence has been erected along the Bulgarian-Turkish border
This has to be seen not as a major problem for Bulgaria, this has to be seen as a problem of the EU
“This has to be seen not as a major problem for Bulgaria, this has to be seen as a problem of the EU. Bulgaria is not left alone."
Speaking at an EU summit in Slovakian capital Bratislava, Mr Juncker said the financial support from the EU may be raised to the €160 (£137 million) Bulgaria had originally requested.
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A military look-out tower on the fence between Bulgaria and Turkey
Prime Minister Boiko Borisov said Bulgaria now needed EU support to maintain proper frontier protection.
Speaking ahead of the Bratislava talks deputy prime minister Rumiana Bachvarova said: ”We have filed three applications for a total amount of 160 million euros to the European Commission.
“We have asked for technical support, for support to build video surveillance and support for operational activities.”
Bulgaria has detained 12,500 migrants, mainly from Afghanistan, in the first eight months of this year.