WITH less than three months before the release of the crucial European Commission (EC) report on Bulgarias readiness to join the European Union (EU), Bulgarias leaders are conducting a charm offensive.
President Georgi Purvanov, Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev, Foreign Minister Ivailo Kalfin, European Integration Minister Meglena Kouneva and Interior Minister Roumen Petkov have joined in efforts to present Bulgaria as ready to join the EU as scheduled on January 1 2007.
The most recent EC report, published in October 2005, criticised Bulgaria in five red areas: justice and home affairs, agriculture, regional policy, freedom to provide services and company law. Bulgaria was given six months to overcome its shortcomings; otherwise, the countrys EU membership might be postponed for one year.
On December 1 2005, the Government adopted an Action Plan 2006, aimed at efficiently preparing Bulgaria for EU membership from January 1 2007. It included 766 measures enabling the fulfilment of the commitments made by the country in the negotiations process. The plan was focused on the five red areas and all the legislative steps that needed to be taken by various ministries in order to meet the EC criteria.
The initial consequences of the plan were the adoption of the new Criminal Procedure Code and the proposed amendments to the Judiciary Act. Another step was taken on February 3, when the National Assembly approved the first reading of a set of constitutional amendments aimed at reducing the immunity of MPs and magistrates.
On the foreign scene, Bulgarian leaders have focused on two foreign priorities: visiting EU countries that have not yet ratified Bulgarias accession treaty and seeking support from EU countries that have already ratified it. Thirteen of the 25 EU member states have so far ratified the treaty.
Regarding countries that still have not ratified the treaty, efforts have been concentrated on the Netherlands, Germany and France. These three countries are among the harshest critics of Bulgarias preparation to join the EU, especially in the areas of justice and home affairs.
On January 26, Petkov visited the Netherlands and met the countrys foreign minister, Bernard Bot. The meeting led to promising results, with Bot saying that Bulgarias EU membership might not be postponed.
The real success for Bulgaria came on February 7, when, after serious debate, the lower chamber of the Netherlands parliament ratified Bulgarias accession treaty.
Next on Bulgarias agenda were Germany and France, two of the most influential EU members.
On February 6, Kalfin went to Germany to meet his counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Steinmeiers message was clear: Germany would not block Bulgarias EU membership but will start ratification procedures after the release of the EC report on May 17. Germany is especially interested in the fight against corruption and organised crime in Bulgaria, Steinmeier said, recalling the remarks of the ECs October 2005 report.
As a positive, Germany congratulated Boris Velchev as being chosen as the new Prosecutor-General.
France, the other harsh critic of Bulgarias EU efforts, was also on Bulgarias calling list. On February 14, Kouneva visited Paris, where she met Edouard Balladur, chair of the foreign affairs committee of the French national assembly. Balladur issued an assurance that France would ratify Bulgarias accession treaty on time, but he emphasised that the coming EC report was of great importance.
Next, on February 21, Kouneva visited Portugal, where opposition parties have shown doubts about the ratification of Bulgarias treaty. However, Portugals Fernando Neves, state secretary on European affairs, assured Kouneva that the treaty would be ratified on March 3.
Prime Minister Stanishev concentrated on visiting EU countries that have ratified Bulgarias treaty and obtaining their support. Stanishev went to the Czech Republic, Greece and Italy, where he received assurances that Bulgaria would become an EU member as scheduled on January 1 2007.
President Purvanov, conversely, decided to work the home scene. On February 24, he received Franco Frattini, EC vice president and justice and security commissioner. Frattini praised the election of Velchev as new Prosecutor-General, but said that more efforts was needed on legislation on accountability of the judiciary.
If concrete results are achieved in these spheres by March or April, Bulgaria could receive a positive report in May, he said. Frattini urged Bulgaria to abolish all types of high official privileges.
On January 30, Purvanov received Bjorn von Sydow, speaker of the Swedish Parliament. Sydow said Bulgaria could rely on Swedens support and that the Swedish parliament will soon start the ratification procedure.
Next for Purvanov is a working visit to Germany, scheduled for February 23, where he would continue to seek support for Bulgarias EU membership before the crucial May 17 EC report.
