In the Club of Decision-Makers

Novinite Insider » EDITORIAL | January 2, 2007, Tuesday // 00:00
Bulgaria: In the Club of Decision-Makers

By Ivelina Puhaleva

A new year has came in and along with it the European Union gains two new members - in a move that has sealed a long period of transition from old communist past to new EU-orientated future. The challenges for Sofia remain the same - globalization, competition, human rights, rescue of five innocent Bulgarian citizens from the gallows. Bulgaria and Romania can be valuable new members of the European Union. But only if they make advantage of their new role of decision-makers.

Skeptics tend to compare the EU membership as a new alliance - just another one replacing the previous Soviet-era. Optimists are high on the wings of EUphoria to realise the new reality brings in new responsibilities too. The truth, as usual, is somewhere in the middle.

The alliance is a fact, but it is a ground for playing equal by all members. The time of imposed decisions and demands has been left behind until the past year - the time has come for decision-makers, for real leaders and less populism. Because the issues Bulgaria is expected to take stance on are too serious to be used in a hide-and-seek play. Energy, competition, farming, transborder cooperation, the EU constitution and the bloc's diplomatic potential - these are just a few sketches of the responsibilities to secure the union's success story.

Ever since the EU embraced enlargement, its members have prospered by creating a cross-continent economy, which rivals the US. The European project feeds hopes that in time it will become one of the world's financial hearths.

It has also encouraged the growth of democracy in former dictatorships such as Spain and Portugal and, most importantly of all, membership has become a goal for places like Ukraine, giving substance to the great dream of a Europe that stretches from the Atlantic to the Urals. So, there is small space for weeping over missed chances - the chance to make decisions is just at arm's reach!

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