EU ENTRY SPECIFIC DATE SHOULD BE TOLD TO 2D WAVE APPLICANTS

Views on BG | March 16, 2002, Saturday // 00:00

The following interview with Bulgaria's Prime Minister Saxe-Coburg was taken by Bulgaria's correspondent for Spanish ABC Rafael Alvarado before the meeting of the European Council in Barcelona.

Q: What are the Cabinet’s priorities in accelerating the EU accession process?

A: We want to follow closely our road map and do, what we are supposed to do. I think we must not strive after some great merits, but rather succeed in opening the rest of the chapters. We hope we will manage to open the last chapters during Spain’s presidency. And of course to close as many chapters as possible. In Bulgaria there is national consensus on the EU accession as well as on NATO membership.

Q: Bulgaria’s corruption combat is conducted with a view to its future EU entry. What results have been accomplished so far?

A: Yes, it is conducted with a view to its EU entry, but also because of our society, since we want Bulgaria to have the image of a country, where order reigns and laws are respected. This is a very difficult fight, because for the last several years certain habits have been implanted. In my opinion while we succeed in this fight, we make new enemies, because these people see that corruption is being gradually uprooted. Many people, whose interests have been hurt, attack us. But Bulgaria’s laws offer good conditions and tremendous opportunities.

Q: When you were elected to head the Cabinet, it was expected that you will attract Spanish investments. What is the current situation?

A: There is constant interest. These things are not being arranged in a day or two. The world is in recession. Despite that we are making efforts to make our country more attractive, to guarantee foreign investments and make laws work for these investments. I dare say my close contacts with Spain also accelerate many processes. The public opinion in Bulgaria is that Spain’s support is very important, may be because of the friendly attitude to Spain, that my presence here provoked. People are certain that Spain will help us. Besides, it might also be of importance to Spain to have on its side one friendly and grateful EU aspirant, because we are an interesting place from an economic and strategic point of view for reaching markets in other regions, outside the EU.


Q:Bulgaria makes a lot of efforts to receive NATO invitation at the summit in Prague. If Bulgaria is invited do you consider that this could be some kind of compensation that would allow postponing in time Bulgaria’s invitation to join EU?

A:These are two issues placed in different time, because of which it doesn’t seem to me that an invitation for NATO could be a consoling award. These are two issues that interest both the applicant states and the member states. It is very important for Bulgaria to get invitation for NATO and this is a much closer target. That would mean entrance in a stability parameter. Stability leads to bigger trust, which will lead to more investments and jobs. Here we should explicitly say that the Southeastern NATO wing – this is we - Bulgaria and Romania - and together with Turkey we stand close to the big interests connected with oil and natural gas from the Caucasian area and further to the east, which means that from strategic point of view this region in Europe, besides being a zone without conflicts is important to be present in the Alliance. Bulgaria has proven that is an island of peace and concord in that part of Europe and this is one additional merit.

Q: What message would you like to convey at the meeting of the summit in Barcelona?

A:That small Bulgaria is ready to contribute with all means, which it has, to the common goal of all Europeans – a big, united Europe, which will be economically powerful and will turn into a calm and prosperous home of all Europeans, of the all continent. I want to use the opportunity to declare that since so much is spoken that some countries will join EU with a second wave, it would be fair each country to be accepted according to its own merits. It should be known who has written one’s homework and if eventually countries remain that will join with the second wave I think that it would be just and right to be informed about an exact date and additional compensations should be proposed for aiding these countries in acceleration of their accession process.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!

Views on BG » Be a reporter: Write and send your article

Advertisement
Advertisement
Bulgaria news Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency - www.sofianewsagency.com) is unique with being a real time news provider in English that informs its readers about the latest Bulgarian news. The editorial staff also publishes a daily online newspaper "Sofia Morning News." Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency - www.sofianewsagency.com) and Sofia Morning News publish the latest economic, political and cultural news that take place in Bulgaria. Foreign media analysis on Bulgaria and World News in Brief are also part of the web site and the online newspaper. News Bulgaria