DRAFT OF NEW ORDINANCE ON INTEGRATION OF FOREIGNERS IN BULGARIA EXPECTED

At an extraordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers on 31st of March, the previous Ordinance on integration of foreigners with refugee status or international protection (adopted with Decision of the Council of Ministers in 2016) was repealed.

From the transcript of the meeting it emerged that ministers were divided on the urgent repeal that caused negative reactions from the EU. Deputy Prime Minister Malina Krumova warned that there may be negative consequences for the absorption of EU funds.

The official reason for the ordinance to be repealed is that it was not effective. At the cabinet’s meeting caretaker Prime Minister Gerdzhikov said it was done at the request of the President.