Bulgaria and Italy Have a Common Future in United Europe

Your Excellency, in recent years, at the end of 2003 in particular, when Italy was President of the European Union the relations between our two countries marked a considerable growth. The improvement of economic ties is obvious. There has been exchange of visits on a top state and government level. Would you describe the state of Italian-Bulgarian relations? Which are the areas of best cooperation? What is its concrete realization and results?
Indeed, we are witnessing a boost in the Bulgarian-Italian relations and cooperation in scales unknown during previous decades. Apart from the geographic and historical closeness, the political elite of the two countries has contributed greatly to the intensification of bilateral relations. The last two years have beaten the record in terms of exchange of visits. Within the ongoing active top-level political dialogue and the contacts in different spheres there has been an exchange of over 50 visits. Of course, it is not only the number of visits that counts, what is important is their richer content and that goes for all spheres of interaction - political, economic, cultural. It was precisely the top-level contacts that guaranteed to the greatest extent Italy’s support for the fulfillment of Bulgaria’s foreign policy priorities – NATO and EU accession. It can definitely be said that Italy’s support during its EU Presidency was the decisive factor for speeding up the country’s negotiations with the Union.

The excellent political relations are complemented by the dynamic development of the commercial and economic relations between the two countries. Indication of that is the rise in trade, which in 2003 exceeded EURO 1.8 billion, making Italy one of the most significant foreign trade partners of Bulgaria. Another positive result of the established excellent political and economic ties between the two countries is the amount of direct Italian investments in Bulgaria. According to data provided by the Foreign Investments Agency, they amount to over USD 54 million, Italy being third among the foreign investors in Bulgaria. I could give more examples of the goodwill and constructive cooperation between the two countries. For instance, the intergovernmental transport committee renewed its work after a three-year break and there we reached an agreement with the Italian side on the increase of the Bulgarian quota of freight transportation permits from 7 400 to 14 000. Assistance was provided in finding a mutually beneficial solution for cooperation between the airline companies of the two countries. The cooperation between the Agricultural Ministries of Bulgaria and Italy was very active, reaching concrete agreements on the harmonisation of legislation concerning the manufacture of wine from a “controlled region”, etc.

What are your personal priorities, as Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria to Italy what have you directed your efforts to, especially in terms of bringing the two countries closer, and can they accelerate the accession of Bulgaria into the European Union?
The main efforts are directed to further sustaining the active political dialogue between the two countries so as to get Italy’s firm and consistent support for the Bulgarian policy aiming to close negotiations for EU membership within the mandate of the present European Commission and the signing of the Accession Treaty in 2005.

In view of the present Bulgarian OSCE Chairmanship-in-Office in 2004 we will work actively with the Italian side on the issues concerning the Mediterranean region, where Italy traditionally has interests, great experience and possibilities.

Relying on the achievements in the sphere of trade and economy, we will keep up the work on the further expansion of bilateral economic ties and increase of Italian investments in the Bulgarian economy. I consider it very important to continue the efforts to promote the potential of Bulgarian economy among the Italian business circles, as well as to establish a legal framework in all spheres of economy.

Another focus will be regional cooperation. The constitutional reform in Italy, which took place in 2001, gave greater independence to the regions and districts and the establishment of direct cooperation with regions from Bulgaria will have swifter results in the implementation of a number of projects, including EU-funded projects.

We will continue the development of honorary Bulgarian consulates in Italy, for the purpose of promoting Bulgaria’s image and popularity among the Italian public and boosting the direct ties between the local authorities of the two countries.

Special attention will be devoted to the drafting and concluding of an agreement to offer Bulgarian experts opportunities to work in Italy. I believe this is of great importance, taking into consideration that even as an EU member, which I expect we will become in 2007, in the first few years for the new members there will be a limited movement of labour within the Union.

Would you highlight some of the emphasis of cultural and educational cooperation? Since the people of Eastern Europe, Bulgaria included, had stayed behind the Iron Curtain for so many years, now it is natural that there would be an increased movement of people from Bulgaria towards West European countries. What is the image of Bulgarian immigrants to Italy? What are they mainly associated with – a strive to increase the educational and cultural exchange or with illegal traffic of people, drugs and increased crime?
Culture and education are spheres of still unused potential for cooperation between the two countries. We are going in the right direction in this respect - the bilateral intergovernmental agreement on cultural, scientific and educational cooperation has been finalized and it is to be signed soon.

There are possibilities and interest to establish direct contacts between institutes of higher education and increase the number of students and post-graduate students from the two countries. The rich cultural and historic heritage of the two countries allows for a greater exchange, which would be met with interest from both the Bulgarian and the Italian public. We have good ideas in that direction, which I hope we will realize this and the next year despite the difficulties ensuing from the new managerial-agent type of approach in organizing cultural events which is being established at the moment.

As for the immigration, indeed the number of Bulgarian citizens who are temporarily or permanently staying in Italy has increased considerably in recent years. It is pleasing that the Italian authorities do not generally consider Bulgarian immigrants a factor of criminal potential. This view has been confirmed by official Italian representatives on a number of occasions. I believe the conclusion of a bilateral agreement with Italy on exchange of labour will create more possibilities for legal work and stay of Bulgarian citizens in Italy and consequently less problems with the immigration authorities. As for the attitude to Bulgarian immigrants in Italy, I believe the performance of Bulgarian intellectuals in Italy in different spheres like music, art, social studies, etc., to a great extent preserves the reputation of our country and people. The names of Boris Hristov, Raina Kabaivanska, Nikolay Guyaurov, Nikola Gyuzelev, Assen Peikov and many other eminent Bulgarians whose lives are connected with Italy have a positive effect on the way Bulgarian immigrants are perceived. The newer immigrants who seek professional realization in Italy also enjoy respect and the official authorities as well as the Italian public do not associate Bulgarian immigrants with crime. But, of course, there is more to be done in terms of immigration policy to preserve and improve the image of our country, this being particularly relevant for the control of the so-called seasonal immigration.

Would you tell us what are the possibilities and prospects of our bilateral relations and in what direction they will develop?
I am convinced that our relations with Italy will continue to be of high priority on the basis of the traditional ties between our peoples, our emotional affinity and, of course, on the basis of our mutual interests. For example, the development of the transport, telecommunication and energy infrastructure in Southeast Europe is of great importance for Bulgaria, as well as for Italy. The realization of the trans-European transport corridors, the construction of Corridor No.8 in particular, is a common priority. The currently active trade and economic relations create mutually dependent production structures, which will constantly give space for a more active cooperation. Bulgaria and Italy have a common future in united Europe and they will work jointly for the better future for the Bulgarian and Italian citizens, as well as for all Europeans.