Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung für die Freiheit - BULGARIA / EUROPEAN UNION EU Commission’s criticism clearly addresses politics [printable version]
BULGARIA / EUROPEAN UNION EU Commission’s criticism clearly addresses politics
Recently the European Commission published two critical reports on Bulgaria’s progress in the framework of the co-operation and control procedures and on the management of EU funds.
Radio Deutsche Welle interviewed on the topic Ulrich Niemann, Regional Manager for Central, Southeast and Eastern Europe, Southern Caucasus and Central Asia of the Foundation for Freedom Friedrich Naumann in Sofia.
Recently the European Commission published two critical reports on Bulgaria’s progress in the framework of the co-operation and control procedures and on the management of EU funds.
The Bulgarien prime minister Stanishev resists a motion of no confidence
Radio Deutsche Welle interviewed on the topic Ulrich Niemann, Regional Manager for Central, Southeast and Eastern Europe, Southern Caucasus and Central Asia of the Foundation for Freedom Friedrich Naumann in Sofia.
To the question about the liberal circles` reaction in Germany on the EU Commission’s conclusions in its recent monitoring reports about Bulgaria, Ulrich Niemann responded that the German and European liberals had warmly supported Bulgaria`s accession in the European Union. He added that this was also valid for the further integration process of the country. The serious shortcomings and deficits during this process, mentioned in the reports, provided however for increasing concern and criticism, also in liberal circles. The Bulgarian government had simply to solve the problems, ad-hoc-measures were not sufficient, meant Ulrich Niemann. However, nobody in Europe was interested in destabilising the government coalition in Sofia, especially at this moment, when the government was challenged to handle the situation and to eliminate the problems as soon as possible, added the Regional Manager of the Foundation for Freedom. The population was supporting the requirements of the EU Commission according to Ulrich Niemann.
Regarding the government’s political will to fulfil the requirements of the European Union Ulrich Niemann explained that the criticism from Brussels clearly addressed politics. He added that the concrete expectations from the government coalition in Bulgaria were the elimination of shortcomings and malpractices. The government had to express its political will much stronger, according to Ulrich Niemann. If this was not the case, the EU Commission would not have addressed its criticism so clearly. Obviously, the situation referred to a political problem, meant Niemann. He said that the time for establishing new institutions and implementing laws had already past. The Regional Manager of the Foundation for Freedom added also that even if some isolated cases of incompetence and lack of efficiency on different administrative levels were still identified, the politicians were challenged to give up their notorious clientele politics, to penalize infringement and to prevent malpractices.
Ulrich Niemann expressed the opinion that the Liberal National Movement for Stability and Progress (NDSV) had been playing a constructional role as a member of the three-party coalition so far. He considered as a positive the NDSV initiative to invite experts from other EU member states so that they could directly participate in the implementation of EU procedures for a certain transition period in Bulgaria. Ulrich Niemann said it would be also advisable for both liberal parties, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms as one of them, to express much more strongly in the future the liberal point of view in the coalition. Respecting the rule of law belongs to the main liberal principles, according to Niemann. Regarding the Movement for Rights and Freedoms one had to understand that it is not about an EU campaign against Bulgaria, said the Regional Manager of the Foundation for Freedom. He added that it was about EU solidarity payments to the new member state Bulgaria and the same criteria had to be applied and followed as in all other EU member states. Exactly this would support and accelerate the further integration of Bulgaria in the European Union, meant Ulrich Niemann.
