Developments in Afghanistan as Seen from Bulgaria

The situation in Afghanistan is complex, and Bulgaria's immediate top priority is to evacuate its citizens from the country, said Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Svetlan Stoev during the Emergency EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting. At the meeting the EU reaffirmed its commitment to stability in Afghanistan and to aiding the country's population.  Bulgaria is an external border of the European Union, and the events in Afghanistan are already provoking expectations of migratory pressure.

In an interview for the BNR, MEP Elena Yoncheva, who is a member of the European Parliament's delegation for relations with Afghanistan, was adamant:

"The danger to Europe and to Bulgaria coming from Afghanistan is enormous. Bulgaria is also the first stopover, and in the event of an influx of Afghan refugees towards Europe things will get very difficult for us. It must be clear that Europe cannot leave us to cope by ourselves in this situation. We mustn't be punished for our geographic location."

In Elena Yoncheva's words, Bulgaria is part of the EU and it should not have to assume a disproportionate burden, the responsibility should be shared:

"Our authorities must demand concrete commitments by the EU on two points: what concrete agreements Brussels will make with third countries so that they can absorb the inflow of refugees from Afghanistan. And second - what concrete help it will render Bulgaria if there is a large influx at our border, i.e. relocation to other countries of the EU must be a very specific commitment. We cannot wait for the last moment."

"Bulgaria's reaction is adequate to what is happening in Afghanistan," Stefan Tafrov, deputy chair of the parliamentary foreign affairs committee, diplomat and...

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