The increased migratory flows across the Mediterranean towards Europe and the ensuing increase in tragic incidents have pushed the EU to take urgent steps. Within 24 hours of the terrible shipwreck that cost the lives of hundreds this weekend, an emergency meeting of the European Union's Foreign Affairs Council was called in Luxembourg with the participation of 41 foreign and interior ministers. There, the European Commission presented a plan for grappling with the migratory pressure by sea, not forgetting the migrant pressure by land.

In Luxembourg, Interior Minister Rumyana Buchvarova stated that alongside the problems along its maritime borders, the EU must not slacken its efforts against the strong migratory pressure by land, including along the frontiers of Bulgaria, which is an outer border of the EU. On his part, Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov demanded the entry into force of the Readmission Agreement with Turkey without delay, and the adoption of a protocol for joint monitoring of the border between Bulgaria and Turkey, and Bulgaria, Turkey and Greece. He laid an emphasis on the need to allocate more EU resources to tackle the problem of migration. After the Foreign Affairs Council meeting, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov took a tougher position and in a style, typical for him, openly stated he was not happy with the interaction with the neighbouring countries for tackling the problems of security along our borders. Borissov says that the EU must not focus only on maritime borders because “if money is spent on reinforcing them the entire migratory pressure would be redirected to the land borders.” Meaning that Bulgaria is for a balanced approach to the problem.

The positions Sofia upheld in Luxembourg are no surprise, they are a reminder that Bulgaria’s demands for more support and solidarity in tackling the migratory pressure have more or less remained unheeded. About a month ago at a regular Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov once again highlighted the need of financial assistance for Bulgaria, not just because of the migratory pressure by land but also because of the refugees already in the country. Between the two Foreign Affairs Council meetings, official data were disclosed indicating that the European support envisaged for the poorest member of the EU, Bulgaria for the upkeep of the immigrants already in the country is meager. Estonia, for example, a country affected by the problem to a much lesser degree, is getting 53 times more money than Bulgaria. This country’s demands for more solidarity and support are no exception; such demands have been made by all of the countries along the EU’s outer Southern and Southeastern border, countries that have been hit hardest by the problem.

The migratory pressure by sea has raised much concern, and with good reason. In 2014 close to 220,000 refugees and illegal immigrants attempted to cross the Mediterranean, with no less than 3,500 losing their lives in the attempt. According to data of the EU FRONTEX border management agency, their numbers during the first two months of 2015 have already increased by one third compared to the same period of last year. But there is also good reason for Sofia to be worried. According to the Bulgarian Agency for Refugees, compared to the same period of 2014, the number of illegal immigrants heading towards our national territory by land during the first quarter of 2015 is up by 60 percent, and this before the spring migratory pressure has even begun. Europe is facing migratory pressure towards its border on a scale never seen before and this is obviously a problem that can only be settled by concerted and balanced action and means. It is in search of such a solution that the extraordinary Foreign Affairs Council was called.

English version: Milena Daynova