Bulgarian FM calls on EU leaders to gain control over refugee issue

Bulgarian Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov here on Thursday urged European Union (EU) leaders to gain control over the refugee issue by guarding the borders and repatriating illegal immigrants.

"European leaders cannot allow themselves to continue to demonstrate powerlessness and lack of control over the situation," Mitov told a press conference dedicated to the activities of his ministry this year.

European citizens want to see that their leaders are controlling the situation, Mitov said.

To really solve the refugee problem, the EU should first take control of its external borders, Mitov said.

Bulgaria has already done so, but others need help, therefore the EU should use all the tools at its disposal, he added.

Secondly, the fight against human trafficking and criminal groups must be merciless, Mitov said.

Thirdly, the EU should begin to think more about the actual implementation of the idea to distinguish refugees from economic migrants, Mitov said.

Repatriation of people who have crossed borders illegally should become a European policy, he said.

This Monday, Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev and his visiting Greek counterpart Prokopis Pavlopoulos said the EU should implement common rules for dealing with the refugee crisis and adopt a position of solidarity on the issue. Endit