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ACTS Post opinions with a wide range of perspectives to encourage constructive discussion.
“We do not want to live in such a Bulgaria. We do not want our relatives and our relatives to live in such a Bulgaria. We want a present and a future that is suitable for the EU in 2020.” These are the words of Miroslav Todorov, one of dozens of protesters in Munich, who took to the streets on September 2 in solidarity with the protests in Bulgaria. The protest in the Bavarian capital took place in front of the European Commission (EC). Under the motto #EUAREYOUBLIND, Bulgarian citizens sought dialogue with the EC.
The invitation to the event, in the form of an open letter, was sent to the German EC office a day earlier. A number of critical issues related to Bulgaria were attached to it.
“Brussels is not blind”
The spokesperson for the Munich representation of the EC, Renke Dekarm, responded to the invitation. His appearance pleasantly surprised the protesters, who greeted him with applause. They addressed serious criticism and questions related to the work of the EC. “In our opinion, the EC report on Bulgaria of October 2019 does not correspond to the truth,” stressed law student Dilyana Chirpanlieva. She questioned the positive results of the fight against corruption in Bulgaria and said that she did not understand why the EC was turning a blind eye to numerous scandals involving Bulgarian politicians.
“As European citizens and taxpayers, we want transparency. We want to know where our European money is going. We do not want it to sink into the pockets of corrupt politicians in Bulgaria.” Dilyana also mentioned the new 29,000 million euros that Bulgaria will receive from the economic recovery package after the pandemic, and highlighted the need for transparency in the distribution and use of this money.
Decarm politely congratulated the Bulgarian citizens for their initiative to express their opinion. This is an important fundamental right not only in Germany but also in Bulgaria, he said. “The EC is aware of the protests of the last weeks and months in Bulgaria and we appeal to the protesters: that all these protests remain peaceful.”
“The Commission supports your report on Bulgaria’s progress,” Decarme said of the criticisms, citing the many discussions held between 2007 and today between the EC and Bulgaria, through which the commission has followed the country’s development.
“Email me specific questions”
“The dialogue with Bulgaria is not over, he continues. Apart from the cooperation and verification mechanism, there are several other ways to maintain the dialogue,” he said, recalling the EU’s plans to link the rule of law to European funding. “It is good that you are expressing your opinion here and that you are addressing us. I listen to you and will deliver it in Brussels,” added the EC representative. “If you have specific questions and you email them to me, I will seek your answers,” suggested the spokesperson.
In conclusion, Decarm said: “I want to tell you that we (the EC) are listening to you completely and we are not blind at all. We are following your statements.”
The protesters promised Decarm that they would soon prepare a new letter to the EC with specific questions about Bulgaria’s evaluation methods. They insist on talking to experts in Europe about Bulgarian issues because they do not understand what is the reason for the discrepancy between the European report and the Transparency International and Reporters Without Borders assessments.
Author: Denitsa Vasileva
Germany
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