The George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies and State Agency for Refugees with the Council of Ministers opened a seminar on "Migration and Refugees: Transnational Security Issues" April 28 in Sofia, Bulgaria. (Photo by U.S. Embassy Sofia Public Affairs Office)

By Barbara Wither
Alumni Programs, George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies

SOFIA, Bulgaria (April 28, 2015) – The George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies in cooperation with the State Agency for Refugees with the Council of Ministers opened a seminar on "Migration and Refugees: Transnational Security Issues" April 28 here. The event kicked off with remarks by the U.S. and Germany embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Bruce Berton and Dr. Peter Kolb, and Nikola Kazakov, the president of the State Agency for Refugees.

The objectives of the two-day seminar are to enhance the understanding of transnational security issues as a result of the increase of migrants coming into and transiting through the region, to review and assess responses, and to highlight future trends and implications. The approximately 30 participants and speakers are from Bulgaria, Greece, Egypt, Romania and Turkey.

The seminar will provide participants with the opportunity to discuss current national practice and share professionals experience in plenary sessions and in small group discussion with other security practitioners and international organizations such as the Bulgarian Red Cross.

The State Agency for Refugees with the Council of Ministers, based in Sofia, is the administration that supports the agency's chairperson, who manages, coordinates and controls the implementation of the State policies relating to granting a refugee status and humanitarian status to aliens in the Republic of Bulgaria.

Later in the evening, the Marshall Center Alumni Programs will organize an Outreach Networking Event for Bulgarian alumni. These alumni events are conducted with area alumni to sustain and strengthen the alumni network. Approximately, 30 such events are conducted annually in the region and range in size from 10 to 150 attendees.

The Marshall Center Alumni will often conduct ONEs in coordination with the Marshall Center Non-Resident Programs, such as this seminar.

The Marshall Center offers non-resident programs on critical security and defense issues to the widest possible audiences within partner nations and responds to the needs of stakeholders for special focused events. The Marshall Center develops and conducts more than 100 non-resident programs a year.

The mission of the Marshall Center, as a vital instrument of German-American cooperation, is to create a more stable security environment by advancing democratic institutions and relationships; promoting active, peaceful, whole-of-government approaches to address transnational and regional security challenges; and, creating and enhancing enduring partnerships worldwide.