Various opinions have been voiced regarding the future of the EU and the chance for countries from the East like Bulgaria to become a part of it. What do things look like from Brussels? What are your personal impressions and forecasts?
Belgium has always been very active in supporting Bulgaria’s aspirations for NATO and EU membership. It has benevolently been following the integration process and readily offers political support, expert and technical assistance. One recent example is the September seminar organized by a team of Belgian Foreign Ministry staff for representatives of the Bulgarian administration on the subject of European policies coordination at national level.

I am convinced that Belgium has never questioned Bulgaria’s right to take back its place in Europe. Like decades ago, many Bulgarian students study at Belgian universities today, and they are very well integrated in the academic communities there. Many Bulgarian musicians work and pursue excellent careers in Belgium. The remarkable success at the Europalia 2002 Bulgaria festival and the warm welcome extended to Bulgarian culture make me optimistic about the future partnership of our countries in the European Union, NATO and other international organizations. Let me point out that even now, before Bulgaria has formally become a EU member-state, Belgium is already practically treating us with the trust and openness characteristic of true allies and partners. To cut a long story short, I have no apprehensions what so ever as to our common European future. Quite the opposite, it is my belief that the longstanding closeness and present-day partnership are an irrefutable proof that we share common democratic values strengthening the role of the basic values of civilization.

What is the role of diplomacy in helping our peoples to get to know each other better? What have your activities been in this respect?
Belgium is a federal state, where decentralized structures – regions and communities – are taking on ever greater responsibilities bringing about greater powers in the administration of the economy, trade, foreign relations. In this context, Bulgaria has as a partner on the one hand Flanders, and on the other – Wallonia. Respectively, the forms of co-operation take very specific and pragmatic dimensions – these are projects developed and implemented by Bulgarian and Flemish or Wallonian structures. This provides the unique opportunity for the projects to be very close to the people and their lives, it makes possible the exchange of information, technical expertise and management skills on a very decentralized level. This is very positive and more difficult to achieve under “traditional bilateral relations”. We find this fact very promising – we can easily analyze the state of bilateral contacts and put in place the corrective actions needed for improvement. In this sense, diplomats are playing an essential role of mediators, owing to which we may often feel proud of the success, but at the same time we are not incidentally spared certain doubts in our efficiency. We have discovered that there is a certain information deficit – information on tourism in not sufficiently available, although Bulgaria is becoming a tourist destination for the Belgians; contacts between small- and medium-sized enterprises are not easy to establish; Bulgarian towns and municipalities are seeking more active cooperation opportunities in Belgium. The reality does not give grounds for complacency. In order to meet these needs, we are considering the setting up of a Bulgaria House in Brussels, to serve as an information and cultural meeting place for contacts and debates. Consultations are underway with potential partners in Flanders and Wallonia, also in Bulgaria – the response from possible participants has been positive so far for implementing this project through real cooperation between the government, public and private sectors. It is clear that the dynamics and the diversity of contacts will overcome possible prejudice and create a very open medium of communication.

What is your forecast for Bulgaria’s future after January 1, 2007? Is the accession process irreversible for our country?
I have no hesitations regarding this. It is my firm belief, and there are indications all around, that we have a real European future ahead of us. Today, more than ever, we can be sure that the efforts and successes of our country are judged on their merits by our European partners. Examples for such treatment can be taken from Belgium, Luxembourg and other EU member-states. Bulgaria is viewed and will be viewed as an equal and reliable partner irreversibly headed along the road of reforms, strengthening market relations, democracy and lawfulness. Today everything is in our hands, as it has actually been throughout the period of membership negotiations. Our destiny mainly depends on our own efforts, as the political will in Europe for our quick and complete integration into the EU is there.

My forecast is actually positive. This does not mean though that on the day following the accession everything will become different and better. It will become what we ourselves desire to make it. But behind us will stretch the long road of reforms, the positives results of which are beginning to be felt in our society. The membership will bring along – we can see that already elsewhere – growing investment opportunities, higher competitiveness of Bulgarian production, the whole economic and political strength of the Union, together with the pride of our homecoming to Europe. All this, I hope will serve as an additional incentive for our country to build and follow through this dignified “Bulgarian project” of the 20th century – our establishment as an equal and prosperous member of the European family.

It is obvious that we have already made our choice in favor of our European future, so have the political parties by reaching consensus. That is why, I do believe that all the efforts during the time of reforms have not been wasted and will continue to give better and more significant results.

Could you tells us what specific initiatives did the Bulgarian Embassy undertake to mark the 125th anniversary of the establishment of Bulgarian-Belgian diplomatic relations?
We will open the celebrations of the 125th anniversary on December 1, in the Trade and Industrial Chamber in Antwerp with a seminar on economic co-operation in the context of bilateral relations and Bulgaria’s European integration. Mrs. Eugenia Koldanova, Deputy Minister of Economy, representatives of the Bulgarian Investments Agency and the Small and Medium Enterprises Agency will take part along with officials from Belgian and European institutions. This is intended as an indication of the importance we place on our economic relations – both now and in our future interrelations after our accession to the European Union.

Immediately before the seminar, on November 29–30, the Joint Committee had a meeting to adopt the new 2-year program for cooperation between the governments of Bulgaria and Flanders. We consider it essential that relations at both federal and regional level are developed, along with those with the separate linguistic communities.

The main cultural event in the celebrations is an exhibition of Bulgarian works of art, paintings and sculptures, from the private collection of the now famous in Bulgaria Belgian businessman and patron of art Hugo Voeten. It opened in Brussels on December 8, in the Francophone Community Parliament building, and we expect it will be visited by President Parvanov on December 17 together with leading Belgian politicians. We are also organizing a seminar on December 16 to be held in the University of Louvain la Neuv, dedicated to constitutional and institutional cooperation between Belgium and Bulgaria, and our common vision for building Europe. It will give some political touch to the celebrations and is to be opened by Mr. Solomon Passy.

The closing event will be a concert by Madrigal Choir in the City Hall of the town of Aalst, a twin city of Gabrovo.

In preparing the program for the celebrations of the 125th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our countries we have tried to recognize the various avenues of cooperation between Bulgaria and Belgium as well as the cultural diversity of the host country.

Juliana Tomova