As the external border of the European Union, we have the heavy responsibility, on the one hand, to prevent the entry of persons who may pose a security threat, and on the other hand, to be able to provide assistance to those in need. This was stated by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Innovation and Growth Tomislav Donchev during the signing of the Framework Agreement for the Implementation of the Second Swiss Contribution to Selected EU Member States to Support Measures in the Field of Migration.
On the Swiss side, the agreement was signed by Hendrich Krauskopf, Deputy Director and Head of the Directorate “International Relations“ at the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration. “The project, which is being implemented in Bulgaria, aims to strengthen the joint mechanism for implementing migration policies that take into account human needs. This is even more important when we are talking about vulnerable groups such as unaccompanied children“, he noted.
The event was also attended by the Ambassador of Switzerland H.E. Pierre Hagmann. He stated that the signing of the agreement is a new page in the strong partnership between the two countries. Hagmann added that it aims to complement existing measures and that it is based on shared values with a focus on the most vulnerable groups, especially children.
With financial assistance worth 21,350,000 Swiss francs, the following measures will be implemented by the end of 2029:
Cultural mediation and support for asylum seekers in Bulgaria;
Strengthening the national child protection system and the specialized approach to protecting the rights of refugee and migrant children in Bulgaria;
Digitalization of international protection procedures;
Establishment of a Unit for Initial Reception of Unaccompanied Refugee and Migrant Children, which will provide medical, psychological, legal and educational services;
Improving accommodation and living conditions in the Safe Areas for Unaccompanied Children in Bulgaria.
The individual components within the framework of the Agreement will be implemented by the State Agency for Refugees, the International Organization for Migration Mission in Bulgaria and UNICEF Bulgaria, in partnership with the Bulgarian Red Cross.