Speech by Filiz Hyusmenova regarding the approval by the National Assembly of Declaration on confirming the country’s commitments related to the European Union affiliation

ESTEEMED MR. CHAIRMAN,
ESTEEMED LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT

The idea of united Europe is a supra-national, unifying thought which began its existence as a utopian dream. Its becoming a reality has necessitated overcoming many differences and the effective unification of European states.
In Bulgaria, this idea has traveled a long road from its presentation by individual people to its declaration by groups and entities.
Some of the former are among us today, in this hall. Also present are others who adopted the European goal at a later time, but have been working consistently and with continuity for the accession to the European Union. Today, some of them are in opposition, others among the ruling majority, but very little time is left until our common idea of a European citizenship becomes a reality. We have entered the final stage equal to 90 days. That is why, to make sooner the European future our present, we all owe each other unity.
The efforts that we have to put in during the time that has been left are equal to and even exceeding our efforts so far.
Today it is not easy at all to score successes in fulfilling the Accession Treaty. Some problems that must be solved now have been accumulated throughout the years of transition and to ascribe them only to the current government is a political absurd. It is difficult, because if some time ago our society was facing a vague image of the EU, today it is painfully clear that we have to rally together and work for achieving the desired standard. That is why we owe unity to the Bulgarian people.
If someone thinks my retrospective appeal for unity sounds lyrical and their personal morality allows them to ignore their own words and efforts, to ridicule the consistency and hard work of those working for the accession, or to put at stake the future of the Bulgarian people, I would present some additional, fully practical arguments in support of the declaration draft.
The declaration has several aspects in which it should be considered. The first is juridical and boils down to applying the constitutional principle of division of powers.
The June 2006 action plan offers measures for the fulfillment of major recommendations of the European Commission identified in its Overall Monitoring Report of May 16 2006. These measures are a projection of the outlined problem areas. Everybody knows that their implementation will be monitored during the coming months. Some of them are concerned only with the work of executive power, but some cannot be implemented without the National Assembly as they fall under its competencies. They could not happen, unless Parliament adopts the respective normative documents. No other institution sets the agenda of the National Assembly, but the Assembly itself, so the proposed declaration states its own will to take certain action prior to EU accession. Through the declaration Parliament not only states certain commitments; it also guarantees their fulfillment.
The other aspect is political. Parliament members express the social and political interests of parties and their supporters. The triple coalition government is elected through the votes of some of those present, but it is also a government of Bulgaria and is called upon to carry through the historical transition to the European community.
The European Parliament is expected to pass a resolution on Bulgaria and Romania at its today’s session. The draft resolution calls upon the eight member states that still have not ratified the accession treat to do so.
The submitted declaration also has a symbolic meaning. It is an evidence of a consistent policy.
It is an evidence of the Bulgarian Parliament’s resolve to take all necessary steps for harmonizing Bulgarian and European legislature.
The support of the declaration is a sign that Bulgarian institutions have pulled together their efforts for the achievement of the common goal.
And last but not least, through this declaration the National Assembly publicly undertakes its responsibility for Bulgaria’s accession to the EU on January 1 2007.
All these signs are our message to Europe – about our desire, readiness, possibilities. They are part of our presentation to the world in a very important moment for Bulgaria.
Thank you for your attention.