September 16 (SeeNews) - Bulgaria has asked the European Commission to extend 160 million euro ($179.7 million) in financial assistance to help the country strengthen the protection of its border with Turkey amidst increased migration pressure, the interior ministry said on Friday.
In a formal request sent to the European Commission by the ministry on Thursday Bulgaria is seeking EU financing for five projects.
The projects include upgrading of border control equipment; expanding the capacity for integrated monitoring; upgrading of communication and information systems, and strengthening Bulgaria's capacity to operate the refugee centres on its territory, the ministry said in a statement.
EU leaders meet in Slovakia's capital Bratislava on Friday to discuss the protection of the EU's external borders against irregular migration, among other issues.
Bulgaria's state agency for refugees said earlier this week that it had registered 12,164 migrants in the first eight months of the year.
($= 0.8905 euro)