Photo by Yuliana Nikolova (Sofia Photo Agency)
Solomon Passy is Bulgaria's former foreign minister and current head of the foreign policy committee in Bulgaria's parliament. He was approached by Darik News to comment on the latest European Commission report that gave the green light for Bulgaria's accession on January 1, 2007. Passy is attending in Helsinki a meeting of the heads of parliamentary foreign policy committees in EU member states.
Diana Naydenova from Darik News talked to Solomon Passy*
Q: You must attend meetings with a boosted self-confidence now that Bulgaria is a EU member state, am I right?
A: Self-confidence does not come from Bulgaria's achievements, but because the country is developing at a very fast pace.
Q: What are the implications of the lack of safeguard clauses? We are enough prepared or the EU will be left without any other means for pressure?
A: These clauses are an ordinary instrument. They are as any other monitoring mechanisms EU uses. Such tools were used in the case of new member states like Greece and Portugal. They are used to help the country discipline itself.
Q: Does it mean we do not need to be disciplined?
A: Safeguard clauses will be activated only if needed. I think if there is need for them to be activated, it is better to have them rather than not having them. Anyway we should feel happy with what we have done. On December 31 Bulgaria will celebrate New Year's Eve twice: once at 12 o'clock and then at 1 am on January 1, Brussels time, when we'll join the EU. This will be not only a New Europe Year for Bulgaria but also a "New Europe" millennium. I believe it is best for us to look forward to the future. The difficulties we had and the ones to come are not that important. I want to remind you it was the same with Bulgaria' accession to NATO. We were worried about it but now we are one of the most respected members, even though we were from the last countries to join.
Q: You probably know by heart the six measures Brussels wants Sofia to carry out until March 1. Which one of them will be the most difficult to fulfil?
A: I cannot say which will bother us most, but I will mention the one that gets less attention, namely ensuring aviation security. A special European agency was established to monitor our progress in this area.
Q: Which one of the two headlines in Bulgarian press reflects best our EU accession: "3 years under Europe's magnifying glass" or "Europe recognizes Bulgaria"?
A: None of them reflects the event correctly and thoroughly. Bulgaria struggled for 16 years to take its place in the European Union. We should not get very excited about it, but we could put a bottle of champagne to chill out until January 1 to be well prepared for the festivities.
Q: Are there any discussions who should take the post of Bulgarian European Commissioner?
A: This issue is usually discussed between the President of the European Commission and the Prime Minister of the country. In my opinion, which is also the opinion of my party, Simeon II National Movement, Minister Kuneva is the best candidate for the post. All Brussels officials know her and have seen her work. Last year she put all her efforts to work for Bulgaria's timely EU accession. I want to use the occasion to thank all Bulgarian diplomats all over the world who hold policy for Euro integration. Without their immense efforts we would have not achieved such notable results.
*Translated by Lora Petrova, Sofia News Agency
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