The Bulgarian Way
- Europe Must Act
- 7 days ago
- 2 min read
Displacement, Survival and Dignity between Limbo and Hell
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In Bulgaria, the right to asylum is shown to be systematically undermined. Asylum applications are routinely rejected, deportations to Bulgaria from Central Europe are rising, and the European Union is consolidating a policy of deterrence and deportation through the New European Pact on Asylum.
On top of this, people arriving in Bulgaria, or returned there under the Dublin procedure, are frequently denied access to reception camps, basic services, and material support.
This report, based primarily on first-hand accounts, documents this system of rejection, neglect, detention and abuse that frustrates the right to asylum and exposes People on the Move to homelessness, deprivation and violence.
By listening to those directly affected, the report reveals how Bulgaria has become a key site where EU asylum policy translates into everyday practices that punish, marginalise and dehumanise people seeking safety or a better life.
Ensuring The Right To Asylum - Recommendations From This Report
To Bulgarian and European Union State agents:
To build migration policies aimed at protecting the human dignity and human rights of all persons, regardless of their documentation status.
To build migration policies that prioritise public service over the restriction of fundamental freedoms.
To investigate the practices documented in this report that may involve neglect, abuse or corruption in the behaviour of State agents or agents from NGOs sub-contracted by the Bulgarian State.
To develop measures aimed at protecting institutions from impunity and corruption, while increasing the accountability, transparency and evaluation of organisms and professionals.
To researchers and journalists:
To develop forms of documentation and analysis centred on the standpoint of those oppressed by institutions, recognising their privileged capacity to describe and interpret the institutional complex designed to subject them.
To extend research and documentation to relevant collectives underrepresented in this report, such as women, children and LGBTQ persons.
To develop research and investigative methods that interrogate institutional agents, practices and networks, and address problems relevant to the people on the receiving end of violence and repression.
At Europe Must Act, we reaffirm our determination to keep advocating for safe routes into a diverse and welcoming Europe and to build fair and dignified options to accommodate those forced to flee their homes for political, environmental, or economic reasons.
With Gratitude
This research was carried out by Félix Díaz. Assisted by Medical Solidarity International, No Name Kitchen, Valia Marinova, Mirka del Pasqua, Viktoriya Velcheva, Sukaina al Outa, Maxim Mogdad and Marta Sánchez.
Europe Must Act would like to thank the 10 participants who gave their time and effort to share their perspective and experience.
This report contributes to our work at Europe Must Act as we continue to document and analyse the conditions and experiences of people arriving in Europe.
By listening to and sharing the perspectives of people with lived experience we endeavour to create more meaningful knowledge, counter epistemic exclusion and expand the understanding of migration experiences.