Bulgaria to Contribute EUR 5.9 M to EU's Refugee Facility for Turkey

Bulgaria will contribute EUR 5.9 M to the EU's Refugee Facility for Turkey, which foresees the provision of EUR 3 B in humanitarian assistance to refugees in Turkey and their host communities.

The Bulgarian contribution was ratified by the Bulgarian parliament at first and second reading on Wednesday, private bTV station informs.

The financial aid has been promised to Turkey in exchange for Ankara taking measures to stem the refugee influx to Europe.

The funds are to meet the immediate needs of refugees by providing food, health services and education.

EUR 1 B will be provided from the EU budget, with the remaining EUR 2 B to be raised from contributions of member states according to their share in EU Gross National Income.

The schedule foresees for payments to begin in the third quarter of this year, with the sum to be paid in four installments over the next four years.

The Bulgarian contribution will be provided from the government budget, with the funds coming from the budget of the foreign ministry.

According to the agreement, each member state has to submit to the European Commission "Certificate of contribution" and attached individual schedule for the payment of the national contribution over the 2016-2019 period by March 31.

The EU initially vowed to provide the EUR 3 B financial aid at the EU-Turkey summit held in November 2015. The commitment was reaffirmed at the latest EU-Turkey summit in March.