Photo by Yuliana Nikolova (Sofia Photo Agency)
HE Bertil Roth was appointed Sweden's Ambassador to Bulgaria in 2003. Prior to his arrival in Sofia he was on a special assignment at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs (2002). He served as Deputy Director-General and Head of the Department of international law and Human Rights, MFA, (1998) and as Director, Legal Department, MFA, (1994). At the beginning of the 90s he served as Counsellor at the Permanent Mission to the UN and the other International Organisations in Geneva. His professional obligations also took him to Bangkok, Moscow and Brussels. Married, has two daughters. Speaks Swedish (mother tongue), English, French, German, and Russian.
Ambassador Bertil Roth answered questions of Sofia News Agency Editor-in-Chief Milena Hristova*
Q: Do you see the timely accession of Bulgaria to the European Union as the end of a success story?
A: Certainly it has been a success story. But it is not the end of it. The membership will be the beginning of a new era for Bulgaria, guaranteeing the country a European future. However, the degree of success is mainly dependant on the Bulgarians themselves. The reforms have to continue. In particular, the fight against corruption and organised crime has to go on.
Q: Sweden decided to open its labour market for Bulgarian and Romanian jobseekers. How would you justify that decision?
A: Sweden opened its labour market fully to the ten new member countries which acceded in 2004. Thus, it is logical to do the same for Bulgaria and Romania. The influx to our labour market has up till now been limited and, in general, beneficial. There has been virtually no debate on this issue in Sweden.
Q: How would you comment the proposal the rapporteur for Bulgaria Geoffrey Van Orden for a delay in the decommissioning of the nuke units, due on January 1? What was the political message that the proposal sent? Could Bulgaria benefit from it even though it was rejected?
A: The commitment to close down the two units is laid down in the accession treaty and thus legally binding for Bulgaria. The debate on the issue, including in the European Parliament, reflects in my view the sensitivity and confusion surrounding the issue of nuclear power in Europe.
Q: How can Bulgaria silence those who doubt it is ready to join the block? Where do the main risks of failure and safeguard clauses lie?
A: Bulgaria has to energetically continue the reforms. As I hinted on earlier, the most difficult problems are the widespread corruption and organised crime. Further progress is needed in these areas to avoid application of safeguard clauses.
Q: Do you think Bulgarian politicians did their best to spell out the impact of EU accession to the average Bulgarian?
A: The communication problem is evident in all member states of the EU. It is a complicated issue and you can obviously never do too much. I think that, in general, the Bulgarian authorities have had an ambitious program to spread awareness about the EU to the public.
Q: Do you share the opinion that the European Union is "doomed" to continue its expansion?
A: The enlargement process has been clearly beneficial for Europe and should continue. But on the same time it is absolutely necessary to strictly adhere to the admission criteria.
*Sofia News Agency approached ambassadors of EU member states to present to the readers their views and expectations on the eve of Bulgaria's accession to the union
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