Bulgaria, IOM to Cooperate in Assisted Voluntary Return of Migrants

Bulgaria's government on Wednesday approved a draft agreement on cooperation with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to update their forms of interaction in view of increased migration flows into Europe in recent years.

The document takes into account the need of improved migration management in close cooperation between government agencies and international organizations, the cabinet said in a statement following a weekly meeting.

The IOM is a key partner of the European Union regarding voluntary return of migrants and provides major support for the repatriation of people of certain nationalities responsible for a large part of the migratory pressure on Bulgaria.

The draft agreement aims to set up a mechanism for cooperation in the implementation of programmes for assisted voluntary return of migrants and reintegration of third-party nationals, as well as the prevention and combating of people trafficking and supporting the victims of trafficking, according to the statement.

Bulgaria has been a member of IOM since 1994. The two countries have signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2009.