The UN Agency for Refugees (UNHCR) recommends signatories states of the Dublin Protocol to temporarily suspend the transfer of asylum seekers back to Bulgaria, based on the determination of the member state responsible for processing the asylum application. The reason for this is the lack of decent reception and accommodation conditions and the deficiencies of the asylum system, which led to "violations of the fundamental rights", stated an UNHCR official during a press conference organized in Geneva at the beginning of this year.

UNHCR has also requested Bulgarian authorities to take immediate measures to improve reception and accommodation conditions for asylum seekers and persons in need of international protection. The Agency proposed to Bulgaria 1 April 2014 as deadline for reviewing the situation. Over the following months the Bulgarian authorities will benefit from the support of several institutions, including the European Commission, the European Asylum Support Office and UNHCR, in order to improve reception conditions and asylum procedures. "In the meantime, interrupting transfers of asylum seekers to Bulgaria would be a proof of solidarity from other states", the same UNHCR official said.

The problems in Bulgaria became more acute over the last months, as a result of the raising number of asylum seekers from an annual average of 1000 between 2007-2012 to over 9000 persons in 2013.

The Dublin Protocol, invoked by UNHCR, defines the criteria for determining the state responsible for assessing an asylum application recorded in another EU member state. In case a different member state is determined as competent for solving the asylum application, the Dublin II Protocol provides the transfer procedure for the asylum seeker to this second state. The member state who recorded the asylum application may however chose to solve this application without transferring the person to the competent member state, in case of any doubts regarding deficiencies in the asylum procedure and risks of human rights violations. The aim of the Dublin Protocol is to prevent the abuses of the asylum system by registering multiple applications and to ensure access to a fair asylum procedure by avoiding sending the asylum seeker from one state to another.

Source: http://www.unhcr-centraleurope.org/ro/stiri/2014/unhcr-cere-intreruperea-temporara-a-transferului-dublin-catre-bulgaria-pentru-solicitantii-de-azil.html