How many Times were Diplomatic Relations between Russia and Bulgaria Severed
If we look at history, there are not many cases in which relations between Bulgaria and Russia at the state level were as bad as they are at the moment.
Brake on EU Ambitions? No Way!
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By Milena Hristova
Periodically I get kicks of optimism. I dream of reading the whole Shakespeare's works, learning the Bible by heart, jogging every morning in the park and drinking less coffee.
Periodically I feel like I am very close to knuckling down to do this.
Periodically the government's EU ambitions sound just as high-minded and... little more than that.
On Monday Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev welcomed Austria's EU presidency with a call on EU member states to speed up the ratification of Bulgaria's EU accession treaty.
Yes, he was right. The ratification of the treaty by the EU skeptical member states will send powerful political messages. What startled me was that the call was in itself a declaration of surprising self-confidence and feeling of self-righteousness.
A simple calculation shows that nine out of twenty five EU member states have ratified the accession treaty so far.
Diplomats from the states who are yet to ratify the contract have been extremely cautious in assessing Bulgaria's preparedness for EU entry and their countries' readiness to ratify the accession contract fast. What they invariably stress is that progress made in Bulgaria and Romania will help a positive outcome of the debates on the treaty in their countries.
Though politics have been always eccentric in Bulgaria, all the way, the signs have been pointing to the big European family. At this stage the country may pride itself on calling its society "democratic", but hardly would anyone have the courage to say the process is consolidated. Rule of law, high quality of law making, independence of the judicial system, corruption combat, and strong and efficient administration... Bulgaria is not there yet.
The country can't afford to put a brake on its EU ambitions and goals, but should also aim to assess realistically and objectively the results achieved so far.
The rashness of the prime minister is not hard to understand - a delay in the complete ratification by all member states will legally delay the country's accession. But wouldn't he and the government better knuckle down to work, rather than goad the member states?
The clock is ticking away.
Periodically I get kicks of optimism. I dream of reading the whole Shakespeare's works, learning the Bible by heart, jogging every morning in the park and drinking less coffee.
Periodically I feel like I am very close to knuckling down to do this.
Periodically the government's EU ambitions sound just as high-minded and... little more than that.
On Monday Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev welcomed Austria's EU presidency with a call on EU member states to speed up the ratification of Bulgaria's EU accession treaty.
Yes, he was right. The ratification of the treaty by the EU skeptical member states will send powerful political messages. What startled me was that the call was in itself a declaration of surprising self-confidence and feeling of self-righteousness.
A simple calculation shows that nine out of twenty five EU member states have ratified the accession treaty so far.
Diplomats from the states who are yet to ratify the contract have been extremely cautious in assessing Bulgaria's preparedness for EU entry and their countries' readiness to ratify the accession contract fast. What they invariably stress is that progress made in Bulgaria and Romania will help a positive outcome of the debates on the treaty in their countries.
Though politics have been always eccentric in Bulgaria, all the way, the signs have been pointing to the big European family. At this stage the country may pride itself on calling its society "democratic", but hardly would anyone have the courage to say the process is consolidated. Rule of law, high quality of law making, independence of the judicial system, corruption combat, and strong and efficient administration... Bulgaria is not there yet.
The country can't afford to put a brake on its EU ambitions and goals, but should also aim to assess realistically and objectively the results achieved so far.
The rashness of the prime minister is not hard to understand - a delay in the complete ratification by all member states will legally delay the country's accession. But wouldn't he and the government better knuckle down to work, rather than goad the member states?
The clock is ticking away.
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