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.
Ahead to EU with More Than a Grain of Salt
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By Milena Hristova
A poster of what the "Perfect European Should be" hangs on the wall against my desk in the office - humourous as a German, sober as an Irish, controlled as an Italian, humble as a Spaniard.....
Despite all the prejudices and revelations that the poster depicts, Bulgaria is hoping, by the beginning of 2007, to come into that picture. The colorful picture of Europe.
But will it?
On Tuesday the European Commission did not shy from banging loudly on the table. The long and anxiously awaited report of the EU executive warned Bulgaria that entry into the European Union could be delayed until 2008 from 2007 unless reforms are sped up.
It is amazing how the European Commission makes an effort to excuse us for all the work that has been left undone. Problems that have been piling up for years - inefficient justice system, rampant organized crime and corruption - can be excused with the delay after the elections.
Unlike the big issues of corruption, fight against organized crimes, weak courts and administration, there are a number of concrete tasks that Bulgaria blatantly failed to accomplish - farmers' agency, information agency on land, standards on foods, air and garbage.
And until these reforms are implemented, the introduction of the safeguard clause, delaying entry by one year, will hang as the sword of Damocles over Bulgaria.
Brussels must be amazed by how Bulgarian politicians don't seem to give a damn about its warnings! A post-election impasse brought reforms to a standstill this summer, a hasty approval of the new Penal Code miraculously coincided with the arrival of the EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn to be enforced only after six months; crooks are evading justice, there has been no case of prosecution of high-level corruption, a string of bombings and shootings have killed scores without a single person convicted for the murders.
And somewhere along the way reports appeared that Bulgaria has fallen behind in the tacitly declared race with neighbouring Romania. Though politicians persistently avoid the issue, comparisons and parallels are inevitable and more than compelling.
A reader wrote yesterday in SNA forum: "I go away for two days and come back to find that Romania has caught up with us!"
Did it really happen overnight? Is it fair?
A number of factors, including controversies within the European Union, also came into the play in making the EC reports critical. The "No" votes on the European constitution in France and the Netherlands, and the launch of membership talks with Turkey fueled the debate over EU enlargement as a whole. Besides, the countries are in the final stretch to EU entry and the EC is obliged to highlight shortcomings!
Sounds logical, except when Bulgarian politicians show blatant enthusiasm for using this as an excuse. Poorly disguised at that!
October 25 was not the first time that Bulgarian politicians heard warnings! What are the chances that they will take the final warnings more seriously now than before?
We, Bulgarians, are usually last-minute men. Even if it doesn't feel good that laws will be passed in the last minute, we will swallow that. But it is not enough to pass laws; they need to be actually implemented on the ground.
How Bulgarian politicians will address these issues in the next four months and whether the far-away destinations will prove too tempting for MPs and magistrates during the Christmas holidays will be crucial for Bulgaria's future.
That's perfectly clear!
A poster of what the "Perfect European Should be" hangs on the wall against my desk in the office - humourous as a German, sober as an Irish, controlled as an Italian, humble as a Spaniard.....
Despite all the prejudices and revelations that the poster depicts, Bulgaria is hoping, by the beginning of 2007, to come into that picture. The colorful picture of Europe.
But will it?
On Tuesday the European Commission did not shy from banging loudly on the table. The long and anxiously awaited report of the EU executive warned Bulgaria that entry into the European Union could be delayed until 2008 from 2007 unless reforms are sped up.
It is amazing how the European Commission makes an effort to excuse us for all the work that has been left undone. Problems that have been piling up for years - inefficient justice system, rampant organized crime and corruption - can be excused with the delay after the elections.
Unlike the big issues of corruption, fight against organized crimes, weak courts and administration, there are a number of concrete tasks that Bulgaria blatantly failed to accomplish - farmers' agency, information agency on land, standards on foods, air and garbage.
And until these reforms are implemented, the introduction of the safeguard clause, delaying entry by one year, will hang as the sword of Damocles over Bulgaria.
Brussels must be amazed by how Bulgarian politicians don't seem to give a damn about its warnings! A post-election impasse brought reforms to a standstill this summer, a hasty approval of the new Penal Code miraculously coincided with the arrival of the EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn to be enforced only after six months; crooks are evading justice, there has been no case of prosecution of high-level corruption, a string of bombings and shootings have killed scores without a single person convicted for the murders.
And somewhere along the way reports appeared that Bulgaria has fallen behind in the tacitly declared race with neighbouring Romania. Though politicians persistently avoid the issue, comparisons and parallels are inevitable and more than compelling.
A reader wrote yesterday in SNA forum: "I go away for two days and come back to find that Romania has caught up with us!"
Did it really happen overnight? Is it fair?
A number of factors, including controversies within the European Union, also came into the play in making the EC reports critical. The "No" votes on the European constitution in France and the Netherlands, and the launch of membership talks with Turkey fueled the debate over EU enlargement as a whole. Besides, the countries are in the final stretch to EU entry and the EC is obliged to highlight shortcomings!
Sounds logical, except when Bulgarian politicians show blatant enthusiasm for using this as an excuse. Poorly disguised at that!
October 25 was not the first time that Bulgarian politicians heard warnings! What are the chances that they will take the final warnings more seriously now than before?
We, Bulgarians, are usually last-minute men. Even if it doesn't feel good that laws will be passed in the last minute, we will swallow that. But it is not enough to pass laws; they need to be actually implemented on the ground.
How Bulgarian politicians will address these issues in the next four months and whether the far-away destinations will prove too tempting for MPs and magistrates during the Christmas holidays will be crucial for Bulgaria's future.
That's perfectly clear!
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