EU Commissioner for Home Affairs rejects Vienna's request for funding for the fence on the Bulgarian-Turkish border

The European Commission does not have funds in its budget for the construction of barriers and fences at the external borders of the European Union, Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson said.

Austria's position on Bulgaria’s bid to join Schengen remains unchanged, Vienna will support EU funding for border security

Today. January 26, in Stockholm, she and EU Ministers of Interior discussed the increased migration pressure.

"The situation is this - the European Commission has proposed a budget for the period 2021-2027, but the Council has made significant cuts related precisely to border security and migration. Of course, I am working with the budget I have. It is very easy to say - we need extra money for this or that. But I am working with the budget that Parliament and the Council have given me and that means that there is no room to add new things if funding for others is not stopped," said the Commissioner for Home Affairs.

Against this background, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has sent a letter to European leaders stating that the Bulgarian-Turkish border should be a priority for strengthening Europe's external borders.

Among the measures she proposes are the deployment of Frontex officers, new equipment and the mobilisation of EU funds to support enhanced border controls. EU leaders will meet to discuss migration issues on 9 and 10 February.