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Gaining Trust Bulgaria Gaining Trust An Interview with Dr. Andrey Kovatchev, Member of the European Parliament EDITORS’ NOTE Dr. Andrey Kovatchev accumulation of state budget defi cit. to opposition from several Western European has held his current post since 2009. This measure is the same as the one pro- countries. What measures is the Bulgarian He is also a member of the Foreign posed recently by German Chancellor government pursuing in order to improve Affairs Committee, the Security Merkel and French President Sarkozy to the accession chances in the near future? and Defense Subcommittee, the the Eurozone members. All this makes Although the two countries were declared Delegation for relations with the Bulgaria an attractive point for foreign reliable Schengen partners by the Council ex- United States, as well as Substitute of investors who could rely on fi nancial perts and also by the European Parliament, there the Regional Development Committee security for their businesses. are a few member states with some reserva- and of the Delegation for rela- What role and issues is Bulgaria tions related to the membership of Bulgaria and tions with Southeast Asia and the pursuing as a member of the Romania. They are mainly related to internal po- Association of Southeast Asian European Union? What are the main litical issues in the respective countries such as Nations (ASEAN). Prior to this, he opportunities generated by this involvement of populists in the support for the was Deputy Chairman Foreign Policy Dr. Andrey Kovatchev membership status? government or expected elections where the im- and European Affairs Commission Over the past two years, Bulgaria migration issue will be an important topic. The with PP GERB. He has also been Regional Director has been steadily gaining the trust of its European Bulgarian government adopted all Schengen ac- with Elsevier BV, Territory Manager with John partners and its fi scal policy is not the only reason quis and is working on an upgrading program, Deere International GmbH, and Sales Director for this. The absorption rate of the EU cohesion which shows best practices on issues such as Bulgaria for Tetra Laval Group. He received his instruments is increasing, which is crucial for the maritime border control and national strategy on Ph.D. from University of Saarland/Germany as economic development of Bulgaria but also counts migration. well as a diploma in Biology. toward the global competitiveness of the Union. Will you tell us about the reform of the These results are possible because of the energetic Bulgarian diplomatic service in the con- The global fi nancial crisis has hit member measures of the new Bulgarian government, which text of the opening of the communist State states of the EU. How has Bulgaria performed is carrying out administrative reforms aimed at cre- Security Services’ archives? in this environment? What type of macroeco- ating the due capacity for effective absorption of Bulgaria is a country whose transition was nomic policies have helped your country over- the EU structural funds. Together with adequate dominated by the former communist (now social- come the diffi culties generated by this crisis? economic and fi scal policies, these institutional re- ist) party elite and its State Security Services, in Compared to other EU member states, forms will fi nally allow the Bulgarian citizens to particular. This infl uence was viciously strong in Bulgaria is retaining its fi nancial stability and eco- feel the benefi ts of EU integration in their everyday all fi elds of public life – economy, justice, public nomic growth in times of crisis. The good macro- lives. administration – thus stopping society from tak- economic performance of the country is the result The proposal for electoral reform in ing the leading role in governance. In a way, we of focused fi scal policy measures of the Bulgarian the EU, including the introduction of a witnessed a dead-born “transition to democracy” government. The main recipe is, do not spend transnational European list, has been in Bulgaria. Since its election two years ago, the more than you earn. This is easy to say, but dif- recently postponed. How do you think the new Bulgarian government was the fi rst to begin fi cult to realize in a social market society where debate will evolve over the period until the a process of changing this model. Administrative social services at a quality level must be guaran- elections of 2014 and beyond? reform making public service transparent, includ- teed. Financial stability in Bulgaria refers also to I back the proposal made by my colleague, ing diplomatic service, was launched with the cutting public expenditure and whitening a black Andrew Duff. His idea will bind the elections for credo that the reputability of the face of Bulgaria, economy by low corporate taxation, which brings European Parliament (EP) with a real Euro-centered i.e. the high ranked Bulgarian diplomats, should money due back to the state budget. debate, and not just a national debate to assess na- be impeccable. This excludes previous collabora- What is the expected evolution of the tional policy of governments and opposition. tion with the communist’s State Security Services Bulgarian economy as the danger of a re- My expectation is that such lists will enhance the and, not surprisingly, provoked the reaction of turn recession looms? legitimacy of the European parties and will over- those who were announced collaborators by the We need economic growth to raise the liv- turn the trend of withdrawal from participation in Special Secret File Commission and also the dis- ing standard and effective absorption of the EU EP elections. The Bulgarian citizens, according to content of the party of the so-called Bulgarian funds. The Bulgarian Minister of Finance, Simeon Eurobarometer, are one of the most pro-European “socialists” – the former communists. Djankov, proposed the establishment of a Pact and this makes me confi dent that the majority of What similarities and opportunities do on Financial Stability. This is a set of fi nancial our society will support such an integration. I con- you see between this process and the creation instruments whose purpose is to ensure the long sider the proposal of Mr. Duff only as a fi rst step of a brand new diplomatic service of the EU? term fiscal sustainability of the state budget. in this direction. I’m sure that if we take European The only similarity is that in both services, One of the pact measures – the fi scal board – integration seriously – and there is no other way if the employees should meet the highest standards won the support of the National Parliament in Europe wants to survive in the globalized world – of ability, effi ciency, and integrity to the European June. Furthermore, the obligation for a limit to sooner or later, this approach will be realized. democratic values, which excludes collaboration the budget defi cit should be incorporated into The accession process of Bulgaria and with the former communists’ Secrete Police in the the state constitution, which will guarantee no Romania to the Schengen area has stalled due Central and Eastern EU member states.• 164 LEADERS POSTED WITH PERMISSION. COPYRIGHT © 2011 LEADERS MAGAZINE, INC. VOLUME 34, NUMBER 4.
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