Bulgaria plans to propose to set up a centre for prevention of illegal arms trafficking through the Western Balkans as part of the European Union’s anti-terrorism effort, Deputy Prime Minister Meglena Kuneva said on Friday.

Following a meeting with EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator Gilles de Kerchove in Brussels, Kuneva said Bulgaria is preparing to make the proposal at a meeting of EU justice and home affairs ministers in Riga next week.

Bulgaria is well situated and has the administrative capacity needed to set up such a centre, the government’s press office quoted Kuneva as saying.

Kuneva is in Brussels for meetings with key EU officials on measures to improve coordination between member states in tackling migration issues in the context of increased international threat of terrorism and the need to bolster security within the bloc’s borders.

Commenting on Bulgaria’s efforts to cope with the growing influx of refugees across its border with Turkey, Kuneva said that setting up gated refugee centres is only a temporary solution that can’t be a substitute for the integration of refugees.

It is the successful integration that can safeguard security, Kuneva said.

She also revealed that Bulgaria is working on a comprehensive plan for the integration of migrants who have been granted protection. The government is also preparing a final estimate of the funding under various EU programmes it would need for their successful integration.

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