Asylum Migration and Integration Fund

European Union countries have reached a long-delayed agreement on a fair distribution of refugees and migrants. The decision was reached last night in Luxembourg by interior ministers.

The reform is in two directions - on the one hand with the countries under pressure, and on the other - an accelerated procedure for some of the migrants' applications.

The Government adopted a decree establishing a National Council on Migration, Borders, Asylum and Integration in place of the National Council on Migration and Integration.

The outlook for the funding of refugee accommodation programs in Greece is unclear even as arrivals from Turkey are expected to increase over the coming months. 

The European Commission has awarded an additional 43.7 million euros in emergency assistance to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to support Greece in responding to migratory challenges, the EU's executive body said Wednesday.

Due to the migrant situation on the Bulgarian-Turkish border and the continuing strong migrant pressure, on September 15, the Interior Ministry sent to the European Commission five projects requesting financing under the Emergency Assistance Instrument from the Internal Security Fund and the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, reported the Interior Ministry.

A total of 110 foreign nationals needing international protection will be resettled in Bulgaria starting this year under the country's EU commitments, the government decided on Wednesday.

EU leaders on Thursday agreed to relieve Italy and Greece of 40,000 people that landed on the two countries’ territory over recent months, people alternately described as asylum-seekers, refugees, migrants, irregular migrants, immigrants, illegals etc.

Bulgaria will receive EUR 10 M in EU funding to support its asylum, migration and integration policies over the period 2014-2020.