Bulgaria’s PM Borissov: Dublin Agreement Does Not Work Effectively

The Dublin Regulation on asylum does not work effectively, divides Europe and needs to be changed, said the Prime Minister of Bulgaria Boyko Borisov and his Czech counterpart Andrej Babis, who is on an official visit to Bulgaria on 22nd iof January.

According to Borissov, Europe needs to close its borders, extend the agreement with Turkey to curb migration, set up safe areas for asylum seekers in Turkey and Libya and reform the Dublin Agreement. Borissov and his counterpart agreed that the Dublin Regulation does not work effectively and therefore a compromise option should be found. He insists that asylum seekers should enter the EU only through the official border checkpoints.

The Czech Republic and the Visegrad countries are also supportive of a reform of the Dublin agreement and against the mandatory quota system, said Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis.

Both countries are for extending EU cohesion policy and maintaining good relations with the UK after Brexit.

The Czech Republic and the Visegrad Four countries also support Bulgaria's membership in Schengen.

Later in the day, Babis also met with President Roumen Radev.

According to Radev and Babis, the European asylum system needs to be revised. The President thanked the Czech Prime Minister for his support for Bulgaria's bid to join Schengen.