The European Union must work to engage Turkey and keep it “engaged with European values...on a pro-European route,” says Ivailo Kalfin, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, in an exclusive interview in The Report: Emerging Bulgaria 2007, produced by Oxford Business Group (OBG) the UK-based publishing, research and consultancy service.

Kalfin said: “Bulgaria is a neighbour of Turkey’s, and we have extensive economic and political relations. We would like to see Turkey engaged with European values, both political and economic. This is not easy, particularly for such a large country, and we know from our own experience that compromises have to be made. There are many changes that need to be made in Turkey, and it might be a long road, but for us it is important that Turkey be on a pro-European route.”

Kalfin said that enlargement had been “the biggest political and economic success of the last decade,” and that lessons could be learned from past enlargements.

“What we see with the accession of Bulgaria and Romania, although we are part of this fifth enlargement, is that there is not the enthusiasm there was in 2004,” he told OBG.

He said: “The whole idea about the unification of Europe, after the Berlin Wall fell, does not exist any more. There are lots of doubts and insecurities for the citizens of the old member countries.

“At the same time, I think there is a lot of evidence - economically and politically - that enlargement is a win-win exercise.

“It is very important to communicate the benefits of this enlargement, to bring reports and experts’ views to the citizens of the EU so that they can see enlargement is not something threatening their everyday life but rather something that provides more opportunities.

“Of course, it is very important to go ahead improving the institutions, the decision-making and the efficiency of the union itself, but enlargements should not be forgotten as a critical idea and an important process.

Focusing on energy, Kalfin said: “The role of Bulgaria is the role of a member country participating in the common European position on energy, as these are issues that should be dealt with by all states, rather than individually.

“The necessary points in the EU’s common energy policy are the diversification of supply and the liberalisation of the distribution network.

“Of course, Bulgaria is very much pro-nuclear energy development. We think that it works for energy independence and is cleaner than other sources, so we are going to advocate the use of nuclear energy in Europe.”

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