Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Rumyana Bachvarova assured that the new migrant routes currently being developed do not pass through Bulgaria. Bachvarova said this on Wednesday in a response to a question posed by MP on whether any of the new routes could see migrants crossing the Black Sea. According to the latest analyses, the new migrant routes do not foresee passage through Bulgaria as crossing the Black Sea would be challenging for refugees. The interior minister clarified that the closure of the Western Balkan migrant route is not related to the agreement reached between the EU and Turkey on the return of migrants, but was due to the policies of the countries standing on it. Bachvarova reminded that before the closure of the route, Bulgaria raised the issue of the emergence of alternative migrant routes. The minister added that all relevant EU institutions are aware that a danger of a new migrant route emerging across the Black Sea exists. According to her, very soon Bulgaria will be able to return migrants who have illegally crossed the border from Turkey. In her words, the same return mechanism which is currently applicable for Greece, could be activated for Bulgaria if a mass migrant crossing occurs at the Bulgarian-Turkish border. She noted that a protocol on readmission with Turkey has been approved and will be soon signed. Bachvarova continued by saying that Bulgaria is also actively working on accelerating the completion of the fence at the border with Turkey. The interior ministry has been conducting drills and training to maintain the combat readiness and to coordinate its efforts with the army. She revealed that a naval training is planned for Sunday. Bachvarova will meet her Romanian counterpart on Friday, with the topic of refugees to feature on the agenda as Romania also stands on the line of a possible migrant route.
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