By Bruno Waterfield - 5th September 2006
The European commission must confront and not follow negative public opinion surrounding Bulgaria’s EU entry, the country’s leader Sergei Stanishev has said.
The Bulgarian prime minister is concerned that a cold political climate surrounding EU enlargement could push Brussels to a more punitive approach.
“The reality is that public opinion in many European countries is much more sceptical… This is reality.”
“It is always tempting to follow public opinion, to adjust, rather than to lead. Europe needs a strong political will,” he said.
“The EU would be much less successful in the 21st century with the old format, with a small market, less flexible and less adaptable to new global challenges.”
His comments come as Sofia enters its EU membership endgame ahead of a final September 26 commission report on Bulgaria’s readiness to join Europe’s club on January 1 2007.
Leaks indicate that the commission is set to impose stringent “safeguard clauses” unless Bulgaria makes good on cleaning up on corruption and organised crime.
Senior officials have signalled that Sofia could be hit by the “toughest ever” penalties for falling behind on reforms – including cuts to EU funding.
The Socialist PM stresses that threats to cut Sofia’s entitlements to funding targeted at the EU poorest regions on the moment of entry next year have not been made – to his face.
“No one has raised the issue in front of Bulgarian officials about initial suspension of funds, which I believe would be unfair,” he said.
“Politically it would wrong in advance… to say at the beginning you will receive less money. I do not believe it would be fair, or very legal to be frank.”
“We expect the commission to treat Bulgaria as objectively and fairly as it has down in the past.”
Stanishev argues that one commission option for Bulgaria, to delay entry for a year until 2008, would damage the EU’s credibility after Europe set the 2007 date in 2002.
He believes that Bulgaria can cope with postponement but at the price of damaging European aspirations and fuelling anti-reform elements.
“Psychologically we can bear it, we can live another year outside the EU. The economy is developing, investment is high,” he said.
“But we should take into consideration the effect of the postponement which will be taken as a rejection by the people, of course they will be disappointed and the EU will not be very credible.”
“It is a question of the credibility of the EU institutions. It helps those in Bulgaria who do not want to live by European rules.”
The 40-year old former journalist is clearly dismayed at media coverage and popular perceptions of crime and corruption in his country.
He believes that lurid press stories concerning corruption, mafia killings and Bulgarian gangster crime are a distraction from Sofia’s progress.
“The areas of crime and corruption are very sensitive to public opinion but very difficult to measure.”
“The track record is important,” Stanishev insists. “Sometimes I read things about Bulgaria that are a combination of facts, impressions, rumours and prejudices.”
“It is important for me that my country’s efforts, and the efforts of the Bulgarian people, are judged fairly.”
“The reality is, and I think we have enough evidence, that we are making very steady progress.”
He cites a new crackdown on corruption and new laws on government contracts as evidence Bulgaria is cleaning up.
“We understand that reforms must continue. Some results must be developed and become more solid,” Stanishev says.
“This is the intention of the Bulgarian government, we count on the support of the commission and member states.”
A May 2006 commission report raised six red flags, focused on corruption and crime issues, a wake-up call that Sofia heard, Stanishev insists.
“We are now in the due period when Bulgaria has to prove to the EU and its peoples that it is ready.”
“Since [May] we have made a very significant effort. We have doubled our efforts,” he said.
“According to my information we shall be able to implement 100 per cent of the measures that were identified in the action plan.”
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