Inflow of refugees as a result of the conflict in Syria

17.10.2013

Question for written answer P-011860-13
to the Commission
Rule 117
Dimitar Stoyanov (NI)

People claiming to be refugees from Syria are crossing the Turkish-Bulgarian border into the European Union at a rate of 100 a day. Already, more than 7 000 Syrians have arrived in Bulgaria and the country’s capacity to receive, accommodate and provide for this influx is stretched to the limit. Social tension is gradually mounting because, according to Government figures, upkeep for the refugees is costing BGN 1 000 per head at a time when hundreds of thousands of Bulgarian pensioners are eking out an existence on pensions of BGN 200 and the health insurance system has ‘insufficient resources’ to cover the cost of vital medicines for hundreds of cancer patients.

In the refugee reception centres, hygiene conditions are basic in the extreme, creating a risk of outbreaks of disease. Moreover, the Bulgarian authorities do not have the capacity to distinguish genuine refugees from economic migrants, and there is a serious danger that, alongside those actually in need of help, the surge of incomers may include potential terrorists. This is a particular cause for alarm given that the most recent terrorist attack by Islamic extremists in the EU took place on Bulgarian soil. The EU has set up a EUR 2 billion fund for coping with the consequences of the Syrian crisis. Half the money was supplied by the Member States. I therefore have a number of questions for the Commission.

1. Did Bulgaria provide any part of the EUR 1 billion contributed by the Member States and, if so, how much?

2. How much of the Syrian crisis fund has been spent to date?

3. Does the Commission intend to grant Bulgaria assistance from the Syrian crisis fund free of charge and, if so, how soon will it do so?

OJ C 218, 10/07/2014