Brussels, 01/02/2007 (Agence Europe) - Bulgaria - “a democratic country with an effective market economy” - does not plan to bring its progress to a halt and will play “an active role” within the EU, Georgi Parvanov, Bulgaria's President, said on Thursday. A great deal was expected of Bulgaria's membership and “we are convinced of the considerable benefit that Bulgaria will gain from it”, he told the European Parliament meeting in mini-session in Brussels. He stressed his country's duties towards the EU. These obligations were met immediately although the advantages of membership will take some time to acquire, requiring “our rate of adjustment to the EU economic and social environment to be speeded up”, stressed the president, who began in the ranks of the Bulgarian Socialist Party, which was still known as the Communist Party until April 1990. The message contained in Parvanov's speech was that Bulgaria would support the reforms of the Union and continue those at national level. EP President Hans-Gert Pötterng said his words “give us courage”.
Georgi Parvanov commented that there have indeed been certain unfounded fears and apprehension, and called on the countries that have not yet opened up their labour markets to Bulgarian workers to lift the last barriers facing these workers, in the interest of the whole of the EU. However, as Mr Parvano went on to admit, it will take a “very long process of reforms” lasting several months, if not years, after his country's accession to demonstrate irreversible progress in the fight against crime and in the transparency of Community fund management. Be this as it may, “we shall belong to the EU not in order to be consumers but because we aspire to strengthening the EU in real terms and to playing an active role”, Mr Parvanov said with enthusiasm. He mentioned in particular the debate on the draft constitutional treaty.
At regional level, Sofia will back its neighbours both “morally and politically” and will encourage them in their efforts to comply with accession criteria, Parvanov then said, in order to develop a European vision of the Western Balkans. He went on to regret that many projects that are useful for South-East Europe are still only on paper (development of communication infrastructures, in particular). Bulgaria, which is a passing point for oil and gas, hopes to take part in the debate on energy security in Europe, Parvanov then stressed, quick to seize the opportunity to speak of the consequences of closing down units 3 and 4 of the Kozloduy nuclear power plant (see related article). This closure, which was one condition set to allow EU membership, is not without problems for the countries of the region, which suffer from power cuts and could experience price rises likely to lead to “political and economic instability”, the president argued. Although he does confirm his intention to keep his commitments, Mr Parvanov nonetheless calls for a fact-finding mission to be set up and for an “impartial” debate on the “serious consequences” that closure of the power plant could entail for the region. (ab)