A regular sitting of the EU foreign ministers took place in Brussels over the week. The migration crisis and the overcoming of the prime reasons for the migration were among the main topics of discussion. Bulgaria’s Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov underlined the key importance of an all-embracing and geographically balanced approach to migration. In his words, not a single region or route should remain out of attention, if a sustainable solution to the current crisis is sought. The arguments of Minister Mitov include the existence of serious risks for the renewal of the route across the West Balkans and the opening of new migration routes, as Turkey doesn’t fulfill its obligations under the Readmission Agreement with the EU. The first diplomat informed his colleagues on the refusal of the Turkish authorities to implement the agreement, regarding third countries’ citizens by underlining that the issue concerned all member-states and not only the frontline ones. It turned out that Minister Mitov was right to say all this, as President Erdogan took out over the week the scarecrow with an eventual referendum on the issue whether the EU negotiation process for Turkey to be continued, saying that Europe should start thinking what would happen in case his country opens the borders, letting all refugees across the Continent.

The EU may start thinking and in the meantime we protect the external borders in a Schengen manner without being its member. Interior Minister Rumyana Bachvarova said over the week that the finishing of the fence with Turkey would swallow another EUR 5 mln. on top of the EUR 50 mln. spent so far.

The foreign minister stated that everything was peaceful along the border and the cooperation continued, but added his hope that the readmission agreement would soon be implemented again. The Turkish side says it is a subject of technical parameters that their cabinet must clarify. Isn’t the dropping of the visas one of those technical issues? However, it is another story…

English version: Zhivko Stanchev