Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev addressed the nation on the evening of May 16, a few hours after the release of the EC report.

The Monitoring Report, he said, confirmed the country’s real European prospects as a full member state from January 1 2007. It does not suggest that any safeguard clauses should be imposed.

“The Report gives evidence that Bulgaria has done a lot of work. The EC admits it, taking into account the serious progress we have made in the past six months,” Stanishev said.

“The messages of the EC are encouraging and they give us impetus to double our efforts. The findings are objective, clearly defining the problems and coinciding with our assessment, giving us confidence that the direction and the pace of reforms are the right ones,” he said.

When it took office, the Cabinet faced 16 critical areas, in regard to which the EC levelled harsh criticisms.

“We reduced them to six,” Stanishev said. “I am convinced that with our joint efforts by October, we shall be completely prepared in those six areas that are particularly important for the organisation of life in the country.”

The positive messages would have been impossible if it weren’t for the electorate’s wisdom and the nationally responsible position of the parties of the ruling coalition. Stanishev thanked all Bulgarians for this success, for the fact that the country is moving forward.
He said: “Today is not and cannot be a day of complacency and trumpets”.

“We have not yet gone the whole way. We are about to go through months of full mobilisation, in order to prove that we have adopted the rules that Europe lives by. The Government and the ruling coalition are aware of their responsibility and we shall spare no effort in the coming decisive months. We continue to work with clear and unambiguous will and we shall keep implementing the reforms that defend the interest of Bulgarian citizens.”

Stanishev said that Bulgaria had a clear strategy and measures that it would undertake in order to ensure the country’s full membership from January 1 2007. The government and the parliamentary majority would mobilise the whole administrative capacity of the state. “The executive, legislative and judicial branches are determined to work in harmony.”

“Bulgaria is a reliable partner and ally in promoting stability and security in Europe. We are grateful to the EU and to all member states for the support lent to the country.”

“Today, we should be bolder and start talking not only about Bulgaria’s path to Europe, but also about Bulgaria’s place in Europe.
“During these four months, each of us should not forget what is most important - Bulgaria is a country of great dignity and national confidence! Because Bulgaria - this is Europe,” Stanishev said.