Slovenia wants Bulgaria's EU accession to go ahead on time
Brdo by Kranj, 10/26/2004 | press release
The President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Georgi Parvanov, is on an official two-day visit to Slovenia on the initiation of the Slovenian President, Dr Janez Drnovšek. The two presidents agreed that their countries enjoyed good relations at many levels in their talks this afternoon, which also covered cooperation within the Organisation for Cooperation and Security in Europe, with Bulgaria preparing to hand over presidency of the organisation to Slovenia at the beginning of next year. The two statesmen also spoke of the future expansion of the European Union to the countries of South Eastern Europe and discussed relations in the Western Balkans region and other current international issues.
President Parvanov and President Drnovšek will tomorrow participate in the Regional Business Meeting Point (RMBP) in Bled, in which Bulgarian and Slovenian companies will be participating.
After the official talks between the two delegations, President Drnovšek spoke to the press about the talks.
"I am very pleased to welcome the President of Bulgaria, Georgi Parvanov here today. Relations between Bulgaria and Slovenia have developed considerably in recent times and are very friendly, which today's visit confirms once more. Our talks touched on a number of issues. We found that our economic relations are developing very well, and that there is increasing interest from businesses not only in trade but also in investment. I am happy that Slovenian business is becoming more interested in Bulgaria, which is really quite understandable. Bulgaria is a stable country with a solid legal framework and will soon become a EU member, which is very promising for our economy. President Parvanov and I spoke of Bulgaria's upcoming membership of the European Union. Slovenia is very interested in Bulgaria gaining EU membership according to the established timetable, and in fact negotiations have already been concluded and all the chapters closed.
"We spent some time on international issues, particularly the activities of the OSCE. Bulgaria holds the presidency this year and Slovenia will take it over in the New Year. This year we have been cooperating within the OSCE troika, consultations are ongoing at the ministerial level, and today we looked at some of the OSCE main areas of operation - the Transdniester region, Georgia, Armenia and Kosovo, in short all the issues the OSCE is expected to have to deal with next year. Our talks also covered cultural cooperation. Slovenia was very active in establishing the Forum for Slavic Cultures, and Bulgaria is also very interested in developing the Slavic cultural component in the New Europe and we anticipate many opportunities for future cooperation in that sphere."
Journalist: "Given its experiences, where do you think Slovenia can help Bulgaria most in its EU accession?"
President Drnovšek: "Slovenia cannot help Bulgaria at the technical and expert levels, as it has already concluded negotiations and closed all the negotiation chapters. We have come a considerable way along the road to the European Union together. Bulgaria is a different case to, for example, others in South Eastern Europe, with whom we are in discussions about technical cooperation, sharing experience of negotiations and so on. Bulgaria has already done that. What Bulgaria is interested in now is the political decision to be made in the EU at the end of the year; whether the EU will affirm the fact that Bulgaria has completed negotiations and go on to sign the Accession Agreement in the first half of 2005. Whether Bulgaria will become an EU member state on 1 January 2007, as anticipated. What is most important for Bulgaria is that no delays occur, and that the whole situation does not become bound up in a deal because of a second or third state, that would put everything back. Sometimes the question is asked whether Croatia can catch Bulgaria and Romania up so that they might join the EU together. That seems unrealistic; Bulgaria has already finished negotiations and closed all the negotiation chapters. Croatia will only start negotiations in the first half of 2005. I think that making Bulgaria wait so long for another country would not be right or fair. So Slovenia's position is that the accession process should finish as planned, within the deadline already promised.
"Slovenia is also interested in the process of EU accession continuing in the rest of South Eastern Europe, and that all countries have the prospect of EU entry. Croatia has come the furthest, having formally achieved candidate status, and probably set to start negotiations in the first half of next year. There are also other countries that objectively have more problems and there is still a need to resolve some issues of political status in South Eastern Europe for them to become serious candidates for EU membership. The process will probably take some time. It is important that European oriented reform efforts remain the central policy of these countries, not only Croatia, but also Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Macedonia, which has also taken some formal steps in that direction. It is important that this remains at the centre of their efforts and they have a genuine prospect of joining, so that when the EU sets them criteria and they meet them, they can count on membership. Slovenia supports this approach and this process."
Bulgarian journalist: "How has the quality of life changed following Slovenia's accession to the European Union, and what has been the most visible transformation, on the border, perhaps?"
President Drnovšek: "Slovenia became an EU member on 1 May this year, but we did not expect a transformation. Inclusion was a gradual process and our progress in that direction was constant for a long time. The quality of life was already relatively good and from 1 May, a few things did become easier, particularly with respect to the borders. Slovenia will join the Schengen process and do everything necessary to ensure our border with Croatia, which is now an external EU border, fully meets the Schengen standards so that after the two year transition period, at the start of 2007, Slovenia will become a full member of Schengen agreement and fully meet the agreement's criteria."
