Juncker promises Bulgaria aid to strengthen border with Turkey

European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker sent a letter to Bulgaria's prime minister on 12 September 2016 telling that he was aware of the 'fragile situation' of the country regarding the effects of the migration and refugee crisis affecting Europe and that further support for the consolidation of the Bulgarian border was going to be made available.

Bulgaria had been voicing its concerns over the poor results of the European Union's response to the migrants crisis, the unwillingness of other member states to host refugees and asylum seekers, as well as the fragility of the agreement between the European Union and its neighbour Turkey on the subject.

• Primary Source

ESO: Information Guide: European Migration Challenges http://www.europeansources.info/record/information-guide-european-migration-challenges/

ESO: Background information: Broad Bulgarian support for vigilantes ‘arresting’ refugees http://www.europeansources.info/record/broad-bulgarian-support-for-vigilantes-arresting-refugees/

EurActiv, 25.08.16: Borissov: ‘Absolute non-solidarity’ reigns in the EU http://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/borissov-absolute-non-solidarity-reigns-in-the-eu/

EurActiv, 06.05.16: Borissov urges Eastern Europe to end opposition to refugee quotas http://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/borissov-urges-eastern-europe-to-end-opposition-to-refugee-quotas/

Balkan Insight, 26.09.16: Bulgarian, Turkish Premiers Seek Solutions on Migrants http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/bulgaria-s-borissov-meets-turkish-pm-to-seek-partnership-on-migration-08-25-2016

The Sofia Globe, 26.08.16: Bulgarian PM Borissov calls on EU to lift visas for Turkey, to avert migrant wave http://sofiaglobe.com/2016/08/26/bulgarian-pm-borissov-calls-on-eu-to-lift-visas-for-turkey-to-avert-migrant-wave/

EurActiv, 15.09.16: Bulgaria to ask EU leaders for €160 million to police border http://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/bulgaria-to-ask-bratislava-summit-for-e160-million-in-border-aid/

EurActiv, 16.09.16: Bulgaria, new end of the road on the migrant trail http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/bulgaria-new-end-of-the-road-on-the-migrant-trail/

European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: PRESS RELEASE: IP/16/3088, 16.09.16: European Commission announces up to €108 million in emergency funding to Bulgaria to improve border and migration management http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-16-3088_en.htm

EUObserver, 27.09.16: EU funds for Bulgaria target border security https://euobserver.com/migration/135253

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