A hotspot for refugees may be established in Bulgaria by end-November, according to German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Merkel, as cited by the press office of the EC, said that Bulgaria had requested the measure on the grounds of experiencing substantial migratory pressure.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday after the EU summit in Brussels, Merkel noted that Bulgaria’s willingness to open such a facility had been welcomed.

Four such hotspots are being built in Sicily, and one is to be opened in Greece’s Piraeus, with the EU expected to cover the expenses, according to reports of dnevnik.bg.

Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Boyko Borisov did not comment on the outcome of the meeting of EU leaders after its conclusion.

Bulgaria’s government has so far officially refused to open such an EU-run facility, which is to speed up the processing of asylum requests.

Meanwhile, Bulgarian MEP Eva Paunova, who interpreted for Borisov during the EU summit, claimed that Bulgaria had not requested to host a hotspot.

Paunova, as cited by Sega daily, insisted that the hotspots would be located outside EU countries.

Asked to elaborate on the matter, Paunova reiterated that she knew nothing about such an initiative on Bulgaria’s part.

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