Michael Geier, the German ambassador to Bulgaria, held a news conference on June 28 to comment on the German presidency of the EU, which finished on June 30.

Under Germany’s EU presidency, the two major aims of the EU were energy and environment-related, and constitutional treaty-related.

Energy and climate change were main subjects at the European Council meeting in March and the G8’s meeting in June, as a result of which it was agreed that by 2020 EU member states would try to reduce CO2 emissions by at least 20 per cent.

Regarding the European constitutional treaty, Geier said Germany’s presidency aimed to first keep the basics of the treaty, and secondly to secure its ratification in such a way that it could be the basis of implementation of the next elections for the European Parliament (EP) in 2009. “We are convinced that those two things have been achieved,” he said.

In relation to the treaty’s ratification, all member states but Ireland have said that there will not be a need for referendums. Moreover, the new treaty will not be called a constitution; Europe will not have an official hymn and flag, or at least no such provision will be included in the treaty, although the current well known symbols will remain in everyday use, Geier said.

The authority of the EP was also extended. It will participate in decision-making, especially with regards to financial matters. Also in the future, the head of the European Commission (EC) will be chosen by the EP, and the number of commissioners will be reduced to two thirds of the number of member states as of 2014. There will not be a foreign minister but there will be a representative for foreign policy and security, which is currently being implemented by Javier Solana and Benita Ferrero-Waldner. This person will also be a deputy head of the European Commission and will thus lead the European Council’s sessions for common policy.

Geier also pointed out specific results achieved under Germany’s presidency that could be specifically of interest to Bulgaria. This is the inclusion of the Copenhagen criteria in the treaty text. These are criteria that are to be met by future accession countries, such as Serbia, Albania or one day even Kosovo. Geier said that it was regarding this that Bulgaria had expressed concerns that requirements will be set at too high a level.

According to another change relevant to Bulgaria, after each decision or legislation passed by the EU, each member state’s national parliaments will have eight weeks to appeal against the decision or legislation and evaluate whether the EU had overstepped its authority.

Also important for Bulgaria was the adoption of a new document on immigration issue, through which security in terms of immigration issues will be increased, especially at eastern borders. According to the translation of Geier’s words, it seems that the EU will try to sign contracts with non-EU countries for repatriation of immigrants back to their home countries. The EU will also aim to provide more vacancies in order to limit immigration pressure and assist countries like Bulgaria to guard its borders from such immigration pressure.

A more flexible system has also been adopted in social security insurance. It has been agreed that if, for example, a German worker comes to work in Bulgaria they will be able keep their acquired social rights from Germany, and after going back to Germany or another member state, the person will be able to keep the social rights acquired here. By social rights, Geier meant social security insurance, and pensions in particular.

What was not achieved: the freeing of the Bulgarian medics in Libya, as Germany’s presidency had included in its agenda. This did not happen because of reasons that did not depend on Germany. Geier pointed out that the biggest financial contribution to the process of freeing the medics was from Germany, although he did not want to disclose the value of the donation. Solving the nuclear crisis with Iran was also not achieved during Germany’s presidency.

Geier also pointed out things that the German embassy in Sofia had done for Bulgaria under its presidency. The first thing was organising Days of the EU in Plovdiv, Bourgas, Veliko Turnovo and Blagoevgrad. “I believe that that way we managed to establish contact with many Bulgarians.” The embassy also organised a volleyball tournament with children from 27 schools in Sofia. To mark the 50th anniversary since the signing of the Rome treaties, there was a grand celebration in the German embassy with children from schools in Sofia and other EU embassies representatives. Geier pointed out that the start of the German presidency in Bulgaria began with the visit of the German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and the presidency has ended with another important visit, that of the German president Horst Koller on July 3 – 5.