Vice President Popova: Work Should Begin on Modern Concept For Award of Bulgarian Citizenship

Sofia, January 21 (BTA) - Addressing a news conference to mark
hers and President Rosen Plevneliev's third year in office Vice
President Margarita Popova urged that work should begin on a new
concept for the award of Bulgarian citizenship.

Popova voiced concern that from 2010 until mid-2014 between 10
and 23 per cent of those that were awarded Bulgarian citizenship
stayed in the country.

In 2014, some 5,999 persons changed citizenship, down from 7,954
in 2013.
Some 389 persons regained Bulgarian citizenship, or 211 more
from 2013. In 2013, 238 persons renounced their Bulgarian
citizenship compared with 155 in 2014. In 2014, 26 persons were
denaturalized because of false documents, and concealment of
information and circumstances related to the national and
European security.
In 2014, 32 persons filed applications with the Asylum
Commission, compared with 25 in 2013 and 19 in 2012. Between
2012 and 2014, the Commission granted one application.

The Vice President said that between 2012 and 2014 the Pardons
Commission granted pardon to 13 persons placed in custody.

Popova outlined a need for genuine European solidarity and urged
that a formula should be found to establish how many refugees
each country can accept in order to ensure their integration.

Popova said that in 2015 Bulgaria won't steer clear of national
and international concerns and urged the incumbent to pay
attention to the social issues of the Bulgarian people.