Open AccessREPUBLIC OF BULGARIA – TRANSIT COUNTRY FOR REFUGEES
Author(s) -
S. Panayotova,
Desislava Petrova
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
trakia journal of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1313-3551
pISSN - 1312-1723
DOI - 10.15547/tjs.2020.s.01.075
Subject(s) - refugee , bulgarian , immigration , legislation , political science , population , demographic economics , geography , economic growth , demography , sociology , economics , philosophy , linguistics , law
The paper covers an important issue in national and international aspect: the migration processes and the legislation in Bulgaria. About 60,000 to 70,000 immigrants have been registered in the country but according to the National Statistical Institute (NSI) the number of immigrants residing in Bulgaria is between 300 and 350 thousand coming from more than 11 countries. The purpose of this study is to present an up-to-date picture of migration, in particular immigrants in Bulgaria, and their limited access to the labor market, health care, education, and social assistance. The authors use the methods of comparison, analysis, and data pooling. Secondary information from the authors' participation in the seminar Waves of Integration (TSUNAMI) in Caciulata, Romania, 2019 was also analyzed. The results of the survey show that the majority of the Bulgarian population perceives immigrants as a threat due to difficulties in their integration and in relation to the worse economic situation of the country compared to other European countries. In conclusion, migration in the country between 2017 and 2019, including illegal, is relatively low. The refugee crisis affects the Bulgarian population mainly politically and psychologically, and for asylum seekers Bulgaria is not a final destination but a transit territory.