Bulgaria’s Role as a Transit Point for Refugees
Bulgaria’s Role as a Transit Point for Refugees

Author(s): Chaya Koleva
Subject(s): Social Sciences, Sociology, Migration Studies
Published by: Университет за национално и световно стопанство (УНСС)
Keywords: asylum seekers; integration of refugees; transit country; Bulgaria
Summary/Abstract: The paper seeks to analyze Bulgaria’s governmental policy strategies towards asylum seekers and refugees and their evolution in the 2013 (the beginning of the migration crisis) –end of 2018. This period seems to be the most problematic in terms of managing asylum seekers flows. The question of refugees’ integration in the Bulgarian society is pivotal for the research. The paper points out the state capacity of dealing with issues linked to asylum seekers and refugee flows in terms of financial, institutional and administrative resources as well as the human rights situation on the ground. Secondly, the lack of pro-migrant political attitudes is addressed with analysis of populist politicians who use the mechanism of securitization of the refugee as the essence of their political agenda. The paper studies the state mechanism of dealing with the issue of refugees’ integration and the role of non-governmental and international organization in facilitating this process. Finally, the research focuses on the question why Bulgaria is still considered as transit country for refugees on their route to Western Europe.

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