Upholding the national interest over the 2014-2020 period, a worthy place and equality for Bulgaria among the 28 member states will be the highlights in the work of the MEPs from Bulgaria during the new term of the European Parliament. On Monday, some of them presented to the Bulgarian public their shared and their personal priorities over the next 5 years, depending on their fields and their political affiliation. This is their first official presentation since their coming into office on July 1, 2014, as members of the European Parliament.

Bulgaria’s accession to the Eurozone and the common energy policy are two key priorities for Svetoslav Malinov from the Reformist bloc/European People’s Party because of latest events connected with the banking crisis in the country and the conflict in Ukraine. The veteran MEP says he will continue his personal battle for abolishing visas to USA and Canada for Bulgarian nationals on a reciprocal basis, as well as for the standardization of rules on the treatment of refugees in all member-countries:

“Even though the EU should be regarded as one whole, due to differences in the national circumstances or lack of political will many countries in the world differentiate between the member countries. This is inadmissible. Agreements protect us, but when it comes to visas, we Bulgarians, alongside Romanians, the citizens of the Czech Republic and of some other countries do not get equal treatment as members of the EU. The other issue that we, in Bulgaria, were able to see at first hand is the refugee problem. The legal framework in this sphere is unjust to the countries in the first-line of the refugee flows from Africa and even Asia, not to mention the Middle East and the Arab countries – the burden falls on countries like Bulgaria, Greece, Malta, Cyprus, Italy. We are relying on solidarity by the EU and we are getting it, though it is not strictly regulated but a question of good will. That is something that should be proportionate to the numbers and we should know how to tackle the more controversial issues so as not to panic, or alternately be lulled into a false sense of security.”

For Tomislav Donchev from GERB/ European People’s Party the top political priorities are a synergy and the creation of a digital single market. However he says that “more Europe” in every phrase means “more for Bulgaria”:

“Europe still has a lot of ground to cover in terms of decision-making mechanisms as well as speed and capability of influencing the policies of the members countries, of synchronizing them with the common European policies. Europe is modest in terms of budget as well. One trillion euro may seem like a lot, but it is a mere 1 percent of the  gross national income in the EU. What we need is more Europe. And this is something that gives no grounds for harsh political confrontation.”

Iliayna Yotova from the Bulgarian Socialist Party/S&D Group indicated that her key priorities are combating organized crime, money laundering and corruption, as well as job creation; Bulgaria’s accession to Schengen and illegal immigration also top her list of key Bulgarian objectives:

“Just a few days ago we got the appraisal of the Schengen countries on our performance in meeting the criteria. And it was once again stated that Bulgaria and Romania were unjustly disadvantaged. We are relying heavily on the next European Commissioner in charge of internal security doing his best so that the two countries may join Schengen. At this point, the European Commission has little power over this. But there are ways to influence the Council of the EU. All the more so that we are about to amend important Schengen clauses and the countries’ participation in it. Illegal immigration is a priority for the EC’s new President Jean-Claude Juncker. Bulgaria has a vested interest in a rigorous and effective legislation. Two years ago there was a major problem in the country with regularizing the way asylum is granted and with finding these people jobs. In this sphere there is another major issue the Commission will have to tackle and it is human rights observance.”

Iskra Mihaylova – Movement for Rights and Freedoms/ALDE is the most highly placed of all MEPs from Bulgaria – she heads the Committee on Regional Development. She says her priorities are growth and employment, promoting small and medium-size business, upholding the Stability Pact, a stricter banking union as well as protecting fundamental civil rights. Regional policy and the operational programmes over the 2014-2020 period are, she adds, her own, personal cause. For Radio Bulgaria she stated that the forthcoming early general election in this country on October 5 will not hamper the signing of Bulgaria’s new agreement with the EU – the Partnership Agreement – at the end of October.

“The Partnership Agreement is not the fruit of the efforts of a single government; but at least two more cabinets will be working according to its clauses. This is a national agreement for partnership and it makes no difference which government is drafting it. What does matter is finding a point of contact between the national security requirements and the EU’s common rules. In this sense what we are proposing is only natural and we can expect it to be approved in October, whatever government may be in office in Bulgaria at that time.”

English version: Milena Daynova