ISSUE MARCH/FREE The official magazine of Radio Bulgaria BULGARIA against GMOs THE RHODOPE MOUNtaiN – magic, hospitality and… skiing BOROVets returns on the world ski map WELCOME SPRING WITH A MARTENITZA! ZOOM/content 7 years of EU membership: What are the 4 effects for Bulgaria’s economy? Dear fellow friends of Bulgaria, 5 Bulgaria against GMOs Prices of agricultural land will continue ZOOM BULGARIA is aimed at foreign visitors to this country to rise who would be able to find here an in-depth look into the current 6 The Software University - bridging developments in Bulgaria’s economy, politics, contemporary education and business life, sports, and also insights into Bulgarian history, culture and 7 Zeus abducted Europa near Kapitan traditions. On the pages of the magazine, people would be able Andreevo to read features that are part of the daily webcasts of Radio 8 Januarius MacGahan and the Liberation Bulgaria - the world Internet program of the public media. If the of Bulgaria stories and topics in this edition appeal to you and attract your 10 Welcome Spring with a ”Martenitza” attention, http://bnr.bg/radiobulgaria is your stop on the web! 11 What’s On March 2014 Have an enjoyable read! 12 Restoration of Bulgaria’s great oak forest starts from Black-sea coast Radoslav Yankulov, 13 Strandja – a birthday turned sour Director General of BNR 14 Bulgaria has never produced better wines 17 Vinaria Cover photo by E. Kalanovska: Martenitsas against the backdrop of the snow-capped 18 The Rhodope Mountain – magic, peaks of the Pirin mountain hospitality and… skiing Publisher: Radio Bulgaria/ website: bnr.bg 24 Centennial jubilee of world-famous basso email: [email protected], tel: 00359 2 9336 661 Boris Christoff Borovets returns on the world ski map Advertising: [email protected], 26 tel: 00359 2 9336 633 How a trip gives rise to A book about 28 Bulgaria Photos: BGNES, BTA, BNR, Infotourism.net Guide to BG Design/ prepress: Dimitar Petrin 30 Issue 01/ ZOOM Bulgaria magazine 3 ZOOM/economy 7 years of EU membership: What are the effects for Bulgaria’s economy? by Tanya Harizanova Which economic sectors in Bulgaria have benefited most from the country’s EU membership? “The sectors that were better prepared for the global market profited from the membership. And in the years of the crisis we see that the Bulgarian export sector is doing quite well. Those who had their eyes set only on the internal market and did not make efforts to use the opportunities of EU membership suffered to a large extent. This was because they did not take advantage of EU funds and at the same time EU regulations turned out to be too tough for them”. We seemed to be expecting a miracle Bulgaria has received from the EU a total of 7.7 billion euro since 2000 under various programs, direct payments and funds, the statistics of the Bulgarian from EU funds. Yet what has been Central Bank show. Today we could say that changes in Bulgaria after its EU their true effect on Bulgarian accession at the beginning of 2007 have been positive. Yet, despite the support economy? received under EU funds for boosting local infrastructure for example, the EU regulations, the heavy red tape, and the competition on European markets led to “European funds were distributed among commercial wars and many companies faced bankruptcy. What has Bulgarian all ministries so that everyone could economy gained and lost from its EU membership? absorb some financing. However, there was no common goal and no long-term Macroeconomic expert Georgi Why is Bulgaria lagging behind other strategy as to the desired results. That’s Angelov talks to Radio Bulgaria’s new EU member states? why we cannot see any significant Tanya Harizanova. “I don’t think that we are lagging behind effects in the economy as no such goals other members, it is just that we are not were set. The quality of spending is what Where would Bulgaria be now if it progressing fast enough. The EU was really matters, not the quantity. In my had not joined the EU? more favourably inclined towards the opinion, EU funds were not disbursed in “In this difficult period of crisis, we new member states from Eastern Europe the most effective way possible.” should clearly realize that Bulgaria which acceded in 2004 and besides, they was extremely lucky to become part were better prepared than us. Given the What is your assessment of the past 7 of the European Union as otherwise fact that we were less prepared for this years? we might have found ourselves in the huge step, it was a real achievement for “Bulgaria did not have much luck situation of Ukraine. We managed us to join the EU in 2007. But that was regarding the exact time of its EU to become members of the EU and the time when the economic crisis started accession. During 5 out of these 7 years NATO and to make some significant and there was simply no way in which of membership we have been suffering steps towards integration at a we could receive as many benefits as from the global economic recession. comparatively favourable moment. the others. The question is whether we That is why we should not expect swift We have now access to the EU labour manage to fully use the opportunities economic changes. However, in terms market, universities, EU funding and provided by the EU. The answer here of long-term structural changes, these opportunities for development that is rather pessimistic. Companies and benefits will grow in the future. The most countries outside the bloc don’t have, businessmen do what they can but this perceptible effect of European funds is which means they lack promising is not the case with state institutions that they give us an impetus to change. prospects to cope with the effects of the and governments in power during that I think that in the next 7 years we could economic crisis quickly”. period”. catch up with other EU countries.” 4 ZOOM Bulgaria magazine/Issue 01 ZOOM/economy Bulgaria against GMOs in the letter to the Commissioner of Health. Bulgaria must not permit the cloning of animals or cloned-animal products on the territory of the EU, MEP Antonia Parvanova on her part has demanded. In her words, the European Commission intends to remove from meat labels any information that the meat is from the offspring of cloned animals – this is connected with the drafting of a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership Agreement with USA. Parvanova reiterated that the EU’s intention of allowing imports of American meat from livestock raised using hormones should not be permitted. Bulgaria’s Foreign Minister Kristian Poland, Slovenia, France and Hungary. Scientific tests have shown that three Vigenin and the Foreign and European The letter goes back to the results of of the hormones in American meat affairs ministers of another 11 EU the discussions at the General Affairs cause cancer and another three – the member countries have sent a letter to Council meeting on February 11, feminization of boys aged 14 to 16. Tonio Borg, Commissioner for Health when 19 member states took a stand The 2010 legislative amendments in and Consumer Policy, urging the against permitting the cultivation of Bulgaria impose a complete ban on the European Commission to reconsider its genetically modified maize on the release of any GMO products into the draft resolution permitting the cultivation territory of the EU. “We believe that atmosphere, including such that are of genetically modified maize on the the Commission cannot ignore the permitted within the EU. Regarding territory of the EU. The letter has been legal, political and scientific concerns wheat, the Bulgarian Food Safety signed by the foreign and European raised by so many member states. The Agency states that Bulgarian bread affairs ministers of Austria, Italy, Cyprus, position of the European Parliament emphatically contains no genetically Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, is also negative”, the ministers write modified wheat. Prices of agricultural land will continue to rise The price of agricultural land in Bulgaria subsidies. AMIS studies since 1998 show pace. In 2013, the number of concluded will continue to rise, despite a 2013 a dynamic increase in both the number of transactions reached 117,727 with the decline in the number of transactions. This transactions and market prices, but also in average market price for the country being is the conclusion in an analysis of the land rent payments. 4,290 leva/Ha. This represents an increase market in 2013, published by the Ministry For the period 2010-2013 as a whole, of 4.6 per cent compared to 2012. of Agriculture and Forestry based on data an extremely active agricultural land Most deals during the period were of the Agricultural Market Information market was seen, with rising prices. At concluded in the Northwestern region System (AMIS). the beginning of the period, the average of the country - 31,267 transactions According to Prof. Svetla Buchvarova, market price for the country was 3,210 including in 3,314,860 Ha. The forecast is author of the analysis, the agricultural leva/Ha, and in 2013 a growth of 34 per that in 2014 the land market in the region land market in Bulgaria remains one of cent was reported. A significant difference will continue to intensify. The Central the most attractive and dynamic. The in the price of agricultural land in the Northern region also reports serious reasons are the implementation of the regions remains unchanged. There is activity. EU subsidies are the main factor Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and relative stability in the lease contracts.