The Bulgarian government on Wednesday ratified the readmission agreement protocol that allows for irregular migrants who cross into Europe to be sent back to Turkey.

The protocol sets the specific requirements, conditions and procedures to apply the agreement and the roles institutions on both sides of the common border have in the process, the cabinet's press office has said.

In May, Bulgaria became the first EU country to sign a protocol for the agreement, which is part of the wider deal between Turkey and the EU reached two months earlier.

The decision follows last week's reports, echoed by Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, that Turkey is not applying the agreement and is not taking in migrants. Ankara's Embassy to Sofia refuted the claims.

However, Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov said on Wednesday morning that the implementation of the agreement was also tied to some technicalities that Turkish authorities were yet to arrange.

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