Bulgaria has asked for an additional EUR 6 M in order to cope with the ongoing refugee influx, Bulgarian Interior Minister Tsvetlin Yovchev revealed on Monday.

Yovchev, who attended an emergency cabinet sitting over the refugee crisis, told reporters that the amount of EU aid for the country will be made clear by the end of the week.

“Our country is receiving direct help courtesy of Frontex. They will send us 29 employees. We have asked for 50 employees,” Yovchev said, referring to the bloc’s agency for external border security.

The Interior Minister praised the recent opening of two more asylum centers in the country, saying Bulgarian authorities have now secured over 2000 additional beds for refugees.

He assured that the Bulgarian government is in a constant dialogue with Turkey and Greece over the refugee crisis.

Yovchev will meet with his Greek counterpart on October 24.

Bulgaria has seen a considerable refugee influx over the past months, with authorities saying the number of asylum seekers in the country may reach 11 000 by the end of the year.

The Balkan country is the gateway to the European Union for refugees fleeing Syria via Turkey, many crossing the border illegally to seek asylum