Meglena Kuneva is Bulgaria's Minister of European Affairs. Photo by Yuliana Nikolova (Sofia Photo Agency)
Meglena Kuneva is Bulgaria's Minister of European Affairs. She was approached by Darik News on September 26, hours before the official presentation of the monitoring report of the European Commission.
Evgenia Marcheva from Darik News talked to Minister Kuneva*
Q: What are your expectations for EC's monitoring report hours before its official release?
A: We all expect an impartial assessment from the Commission. We expect our cooperation and exchange of information in the last three months to be mentioned in the report. Even on Monday, I, myself sent a letter to Commissioner Rehn, Commissioner Frattini and European Commission President Barroso to inform them the draft law for the amendments in Bulgarian Constitution was introduced to the parliament. But I also expect to hear all those other areas mentioned, for which we will have to work harder to enhance. We know we have to continue working over the so-called decentralisation of the Ministry of Finance. We also have to step up the reform in the judiciary system. However, I believe there will be no surprises.
Q: Do you expect the same critical assessment of the EC as in the May report for the areas you mentioned?
A: The May 16 report was very positive. It did not suggest postponed accession and safeguard clauses. My expectations are that the September report will hold the same line. As regarding the different areas, I think we made significant progress in all of them, however certain outstanding issues remain to be addressed. I think the EC will remind us of the provisions of the Accession Treaty - e.g. all those "discipline" mechanisms the European Union applies to its member states. So if I have to say what we should expect after Bulgaria's accession, I would use one word only - discipline.
Q: So you expect harsh measures but no safeguard clauses?
A: I await equality of treatment and no surprising harsh measures, only the ones we already know about. But discipline is demanded from each full-fledged member state.
Q: There are reports that there will be a new monitoring report every six months until we fix all the gaps in the instable areas. Is that true?
A: It is possible. This is done in order to avoid the implementation of any safeguard clauses.
* Translated by Lora Petrova, Sofia News Agency