MGERB took part in the discussion “Politics: Cause and/or profession”

29/07/2010

On the 28th of July in New Bulgarian University a discussion on the topic of “Politics: Cause and/or profession” took place, which was attended by representatives of almost all youth political organisations. Representatives of MGERB were Monika Panayotova – Chairwoman of MGERB, Mitya Atanasov – MGERB Sofia and Milen Nikolov – Coordinator of MGERB Kiustendil.

The debate went around the two thesis “cause” – “profession”, but in the end all participants agreed, that politic is a cause, as well as a profession and some even added that it is a before all a vocation.

Monika Panayotova stated, that according to her in politic there always should be a cause, and not personal, not for personal gain. Along with that she expressed her opinion that the politician has to have a defined expertise and not only political speaking and participation in all topics in the daily routine. “You need to be able to promote given ideas, as well as defend them with arguments. But whatever you choose for yourself: cause and/or profession, before everything it is most important that when you do something, not depending on what it is, to do it with desire and to have motivation for it. Otherwise it can’t happen.” stated Monika, who is the Chairperson of the Committee on European Affairs and Oversight of the European Funds.

Monika Panayotova: We deserve a six for the improvement of the assimilation of European subsidies

29/07/2010

Until the end of the year we can negotiate 50% of the resources and payments can reach 11%

- Miss Panayotova, you are in charge of the commission regarding European questions from a couple of weeks, what have you managed to achieve in this time?

- Yes the time limit has been short, but we succeeded to have three extra sessions jointly with other commissions. We had to approve several important ratifications, so they can be viewed before the vacation. We wanted in Wednesday (author’s note – yesterday) to present the half way report of the commission for the assimilation of the European resources in Bulgaria for the first six months, but due to the different dynamic of the parliamentary sessions we decided to postpone it for the beginning of September.

- What are the main conclusions from the report, which is due to be presented?

- It is still being prepared, but the highlights are, that we really should be proud as a country for that, that we managed to increase the tempo of assimilation of European funds during the last 12 months – for this period we account a serious increase, as well as on the part of negotiation, as well as on payment. If we compare with last year during this time the payments were just around 1%, while now they are 4.6%, and the resources on the JEREMIE initiative have increased up to 7%. So we have 7 times better assimilation of resources. During negotiations, if last year during this time we had 10%, now we have 34%. According to the LOTHAR system which is used for making financial predictions, connected with the tempo of assimilation of European funds until the end of 2010 it is possible to reach levels between 48 and 50% of the negotiated resources and around 11% of payments.

- Which of the programs can receive an “excellent” and which have unsatisfactory results?

- Forming an “excellent” mark for payments are Operative program “Competitiveness” for those 200 million euro, predicted by the JEREMIE initiative. This leads to an increase of payments of 317 times. The money have not, reached the final receivers, but it is a question of time, the important thing is that the government managed to undertake the necessary measures not to lose them. This is our proposal in the report – to speed up the processes, so that the money can reach the business. The second place is for the OP “Regional Development” with an increase of 6.58 times and third OP “Transport” with 46.6 times faster payment.
The last place is for OP “Technical Support”. We have a proposal for OP “Administrative Capacity” – to speed up the work on it, because there has been marked delay, because of the reorganization of the structure of its management. Another of our proposals is in the fulfillment of the separate programs to search for the highest degree of supplementation and generation of synergy effects.

- The program for the development of the agriculture regions is outside the seven operative programs, for which you gave a mark. What are your suggestions regarding this programme?

- As a whole it is moving with a good tempo, so regarding it we don’t have specific proposals.

- What is the mark as a whole that you would put on the process connected with the assimilation of resources from the European Union for the first half of the year?

- When we are comparing the tempo with previous years, I think, that the Bulgarian government is moving towards a six regarding the will, the clear vision, the urge for the creation of clear rules and speeding up the payments and the final results. There is still what to expect in regards of the resources reaching the final receivers, but only a year has passed. Seven times more payments is clearly a good start.

- What is not enough for the full six? What are your main suggestions for improving the work on the programs?

- To speed up the payments and to improve project preparation, despite that the second depends on the receivers, especially the municipalities. This, which I said – to strive for the effect of synergy between the separate programs, is good to be used especially during the time of crisis. The procedures must additionally be made easier. Ambitious task, but I believe achievable, the idea to create a law for the European resources. With it the control on the assimilation of resources, will be even bigger, and from another side the 20 normative acts, which we have in this sphere at the moment, can be united in it.

- Is work being done at the moment for a project for such a law?

- Not yet, but there is thought in that direction.

- During the fall there is a report of the European Commission due regarding the assimilation of European subsidies. Do you expect a six from it?

- I hope that there will be a six there or at least a regard to the political will and the progress in the tempo of the work of the separate programs. Not before long there was a report based on data by OLAF, according to which we receive excellent marks regarding misuse of European funds, but it is very important to have in mind, that he is based on data from 2009, in other words it states what has been done by the past government. The opposition misused the data from this report. It is on the base of what has been done before. On the base what has been now I hope, that there really will be a fair report, which should have a critic tone for that which we can still improve, but stating the improvement, which is visible even by the numbers for the increase of negotiations and payments.

- In the report there will be included a mark for the pre-accession programs. What are the findings there?

- A big part of the resources from the pre-accession programs were stopped. This, which we mark as positive is that there has been an improvement in the communications with Brussels. A priority regarding ISPA is the “Lulin” highway. During the actualization of the budget we voted an additional 62.6 million levs for 2010, because a priority is the building of the highways. The European Commission has expressed will for giving a postponement for the key projects on ISPA and in the sectors “Environment” and “Transport”.

- It is expected that during March 2011 Bulgaria will become part of Schengen space. Are we going to be able to keep the deadline and assimilate the resources, which we will receive for this target?

- Up to this moment there have been 148.6 million euro and 68.6 million euro paid. I expect that during the fall there will be the most realized agreements in this direction. It is very important that the government didn’t let to lose resources. We have really determined March as a deadline, but let’s not go for a determined month, let’s say that a priority is 2011, for the signing of the agreement, so that in 2012 it can take effect. Regarding Schengen the visit of Angela Merkel is very important and the message that she will give.

- What are your targets and priorities until the end of this calendar year?

- On first place – the presentation of the report in September. After that we need to begin preparing the year report, which needs to be presented during January – February 2011. Work needs to be started in the direction of applying the principle of subsidy, because after the Lisbon Treaty the role of the national parliaments is becoming especially responsible. Before the acts are really discussed in the European Parliament, they will pass the national parliaments and if we have remarks on a normative act, it needs to be made in the frame of eight weeks. The idea of subsidy is to make the politic of the European Union (EU) more accessible to the citizens, because it is supposed, that we as national parliaments are in much more direct contact with our citizens.
Another good topic, which we need to develop, is the so called civil initiative. So if 1 million citizens from the EU decide, now they can initiate an act. Now it is a question of discussion from how many countries to the citizens need to be.
I want there to be more talk about European questions. The focus so far is on the European funds and this is normal, but parallel we need to work in the direction of European questions.

Interview of Darina Cherkezova for “Pari” Newspaper

Who is Monika Panayotova:
► Monika Panayotova has a BA in International Relations and a MA in International Economic Relations with a specialization in “International Project Management” from the University of National and World Economy
►After her graduation to 2008, she was first a researcher and then director “Projects connected with Society” in the Economic Policy Institute.
Panayotova has experience in the preparation and realisation of international projects and reports on European questions, as well as a specialization in the sector of international relations.
At the moment she is Chairwoman of MGERB, Member of the Foreign Policy and Defense Committee and from two weeks Chairperson of the Committee on European Affairs and Oversight of the European Funds
► She speaks French and English

MGERB participated in the 34th Summer University of the European Democrat Students: "Living together in communities of diversity"

28/07/2010

Between 19 to 27 July in the town of Zilina, Slovak Republic the Annual Meeting of the European Democrat Students(EDS) was held – the largest student political organization in the EU, associated member to the European People’s Party.
The event was attended by over 100 delegates from different European countries and also countries outside the EU. MGERB delegates were Kalin Zahariev, member of the NEC of MGERB, Pencho Malinov, regional coordinator of MGERB Plovdiv, Natalia Ivanova, MGERB Pleven and Ivailo Ivanov, MGERB Burgas.

The official opening was on 19th July, when participants met with the mayor of Zilina, Mr. Ivan Harman. The emphasis of his words was put on the unification of the right political space in order to overcome the deal with the distorted nationalism and to reach tolerance among ethnic groups. The topic is connected with the history of Zilina, and the city is famous for these processes.

The second day of the Summer University started with a business breakfast with Mr Peter Yungen, President of the Union of small and medium entrepreneurs. The topic of discussion was the fate of the euro in the context of the financial and economic crisis.

The rest of the day was spent in panel discussions and sessions of the permanent working groups of EDS. Discussion panels were: "Forthcoming elections in the U.S.", “Fight against political Islam ", "Tolerance in our everyday life”. For this purpose, the participants of their choice were involved in the ongoing parallel sessions.

Sessions of the permanent working groups of EDS were held after the conclusion of discussions. Permanent working groups were: Higher education, Policies for Europe and Human Rights. Each group had its own agenda, topics and documents for discussion, and these sessions took place at the same time.

On July 21, EDS held the 40th Annual Meeting of the organization. The most important part of the day was the election of a new Bureau of EDS, changes in constituent documents of the organization, adoption of a “Resolution of the diversity in society”. The annual report of the EDS was presented as well as the upcoming events for 2010-2011.

The fourth day of the Summer University started with a discussion attended by guest-speaker Mr. Pavol Kosey, adviser to the former Commissioner Jan Figel. The topic of the discussion was "Tolerance at European level” and it has been discussed lively because of the different viewpoints of the participants and the realities in the EU regarding ethnicities and religions.
After that there were two working sessions with topics concerning the elections for student representatives in the universities, organizing and conducting events, fundraising and management.

July 24 began with a meeting of the newly elected Bureau of EDS, where organizational issues and upcoming events were discussed. Along with this, nominations were made for co-chairmen of Working Groups. Most candidates had a great interest to the Working Group on Higher Education. As a result of the work of MGERB within ESD in higher education, student activities and projects, Kalin Zahariev was among the nominees. After the hearing of candidates there were elected co-presidents and among them was the representative of MGERB.

The second event was discussion. Guest lecturer for the day was representative of the Slovak Foreign Policy Association. He welcomed participants and presented the association's activities. After he finished his presentation, a series of questions and answers connected with the foreign policy of Slovakia and the region followed.

A member of the National Executive Council of MGERB in the leadership of EDS

24/07/10

Kalin Zahariev was appointed co-chair of the Higher Education & Research permanent work group of European Democrat Students (EDS). The appointment turned into a fact during the 34th Summer University of EDS.

The work group is a focus for suggestions, projects and activities in the sphere of higher education on European level. There are over 20 center-right youth political and student organisations from the European Union and other countries involved directly and indirectly in the work of the group.

Monika Panayotova: The European money at home are additionally protected

22/07/10

On the payments in absolute value the best moving are OP “Competitiveness”, OP “Regional Development” and OP “Transport”

Monika Panayotova is the Chairperson of the Committee on European Affairs and Oversight of the European Funds.

She has a BA in “International Relations” from the University of National and World Economy and has a MA in “International Economic Relations”, with a specialization in “International Project Management”. She was the director of “Projects connected with Society”, in the Economical Policy Institute - Sofia until 2008

Monika Panayotova is a majoritarian member of parliament from GERB, elected during the parliamentary elections in 2009. We are discussing with her the processes and results in the assimilation of resources on of the operative programs and the possibilities of juridical changes in this sphere.

- Miss Panayotova how do you look on the initiative of the minister in charge of the European funds Tomislav Donchev to have the documents for candidacy for the public procurements to become standard until the end of the year?

Definitely I welcome the initiative of Mr. Donchev, as much as I am familiarised, the idea doesn’t target only the operative programs, which are being financed by the European Union (EU), but by default… Standardization leads a defined type of behavior and gives clear rules for all interested parties – as well as candidacy, as well as for the giving and controlling organs. This respectively makes the processes much clear, more transparent and not decided in advance.

- To this moment which operative programs are negotiated and on which – has been given out the highest amount of European resources and from the other side on which has been given – the lowest.

It is important to highlight that by facts of the Information System for Management and Monitoring (ISMM) of the EU, with which we are thriving for greater transparency and publicity, if until July 2009 we have negotiated 10%, today until July 2010 we have over 43% of the resources.

Regarding payments until July 2009 they are 0.67%, today they are 4.6%. Until the end of 2010 it is possible to achieve 50% negotiated and over 11% paid resources.

Here see, according to the certifying organ the National Fund in the Ministry of Finance, you can follow that regarding payments in absolute value until this moment the best going are OP “Competitiveness”, OP “Regional Development” and OP “Transport”.

For the seven operative programs, we have a total of 7% assimilation, which is 7 times more then last year. This according to me should be remarked as a considerable progress as the result of the work of the government of GERB.

Regarding the negotiation of the European resources, receiving excellent marks are OP “Regional Development:, OP “Transport” and OP “Human Resources Development”. With the lowest percentage of payment and negotiation is OP “Technical Assistance”.

- Is there a way according to you to make candidacy for programs easier for business in judicial way? Do you have impressions if the necessary documents and verifications for candidacy at home are more then at the other countries of the EU?

We all acknowledge the need for simplifying and making easier the procedures and respectively the amount of documentation. At the moment the team of Mr. Donchev actively works in this direction, as there are already accepted decrees and decisions of the Council of Ministers, with which the base rules have been changed in the direction for them to be easier for the final receivers. In the moment there are around 20 law acts

I think that the biggest challenge with us and Minister Donchev is the preparation of a Law for the European funds, which will mean the regulation of stronger control functions.

- Do you think, that judicially the chance for conflict of interests is completely evaded, regarding candidacy for the operative programs, when regarding candidacies of firms and commissions marking the projects?

The European money at home is additionally protected, as they are an object of many additional examinations, as well as national and as well from the European structures.

It is more like our task is to have the strict standards, which the European resources have to the rest of the public resources, those of the government and municipal budgets.

- Is there progress on the proposal of the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works to the European Commission, part of the resources of OP’s which have the possibility to not be assimilated by 2013, to be redirected to OP “Regional Development”, with the target of repairing roads of European importance?

I am not familiar with such a proposal, or in the way that your question is formed. There is an idea for changing some projects of OP “Transport” with others, but not for changing of money between the programs.

- Minister Donchev stated shortly, that really soon the payments on the operative programs will reach a total of 1 milliard euro. Has this yet happened and for absolute value, which OP has the largest payments? How are things standing on the Rural Development Programme?

The stated by Mr. Donchev is now fact, now are at a level of 1.1 milliard euro assimilation. On absolute value the leader is OP “Development of the competitiveness of the Bulgarian economy”, with its paid over 216.9 million euro.

Regarding the Rural Development Programme, according to official data till July 19th 2010 there are over 517.66 million euro paid, 15.7% of the total budget of the program.

- Which are the first projects for laws that the Committee on European Affairs and Oversight of the European Funds will look at in September and personally do you yet have any intentions to suggest changes in some laws?

Before the parliamentary commission goes on vacation during August the report of our commission on the assimilation of the EU resources for the first six months is due.

At this point our commission has a wide range. Other then the main priorities, on which I think we need to focus, precisely funding and the Lisbon Treaty from one side and the control of the assimilation of the European resources on the other side, we have a lot of projects for laws, connected with the formulation of regulations and directives, which regard our jurisdiction.

In this direction forthcoming in September is the viewing of the projects for laws – Law for credit institutions and Law for foreigners. Mutual challenge, as I already mentioned with the team of Mr. Donchev is the preparation of a law.

Interview made by Maia Tsvetkova Investitor.bg

MGERB participated in training for campaign skills for center-right parties from Southeastern Europe

21/07/10

In the period between the 16th of July 2010 and the 20th of July 2010 the International Republican Institute (IRI) organised training under the title: “Campaign skills”, which was participated by members of center-right parties from Southeaster Europe – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Rumania and Serbia, the training took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina. MGERB was represented by Natalie Hadad from MGERB Sofia.

The training was held in three panels: “Development of messages and political communication”, “Strategic research in political campaigns” and “Organisation of a political campaign”. Presenting a great interest for the participants and being helpful were the many practical uses of the learned material in the form of practical games.

Lecturers of the first panel were Anna Matuskova and Barbara Pertova from the Czech Republic. During it the methods of communication, the development of messages and planning were shown. In the end there was a practical exercise of the lection part, through playing out an interview from a journalist to a candidate in an election campaign, which was videoed on camera.

The second panel was led by Herman de Vrais from Holland and Jan Erik Surotchek from the USA. It was dedicated to the sociological reports in their political aspect and building a strategy, based on them. In the end of the seminar there was a fulfilling lection on the political parties in the USA and the elections during 2010 there.

Lecturer of the third and last panel was Michael Sieben from Germany. There was a big training for that how a political campaign is organised. Accompanied with many practical attachments it gave knowledge to the participants how is a strategy for a political campaign build and executed, how to make contact with the voters and how to find volunteers for the election campaign.

Monika Panayotova: The report is a motivator for the acceleration of reforms

20/07/10

The Member of Parliament Monika Panayotova Chairperson of the Committee on European Affairs and Oversight of the European Funds in the National Assembly, commentates for Europe Gateway today’s report of the European Commission under the Co-Operation and Verification Mechanism for Bulgaria.

How would you comment on the statements, that this is the best report for Bulgaria?

- I am also on the opinion, that this is one of the best reports and it is not a coincidence that the prime minister stated more then one time the moment that for the first time the progress is specified on all indexes in the Co-Operation and Verification Mechanism. I would say that the report is a motivator for the government to accelerate even more the reforms, to raise the readiness for the fulfillment of the suggestions of the European Commission, which was given as a clear signal from the side of the prime minister. The moments, which I highlight while reading it, are three. The first moment, is that it is stated that there is strong political will and political determination. The second is that there is a push for reforms – something that the report for Romania is lacking, as far as I familiarised myself with it. The third is the quality of the information. This circle – political will, readiness for reforms and communication clearly shows us, that the government is heading in the right direction.

But at the same time, the critic about the judicial system continues, particularly for that, that there is will, intentions, programs, but no real practical actions?

- This is like that and we know it. After all we live here and we observe. You know that the judicial power is independent and this which we need to have in mind is that if the judicial system is not reformed and does not stand up to the “benchmark” indexes in that part of the report, in one moment the obligation of the other countries to acknowledge and fulfill our judicial decisions and sentences might be cancelled. So that must be a motivating factor for the independent judicial power, to make the necessary changes, so that it can really develop in the dynamic in which both the executive and legislative powers develop.

Why is that for the first time in the report the public procurements are mentioned and especially the moment that practically 100% of the big infrastructure procurements are problematic?

- Because you know of the great abuses in this line. This which is needed as a judicial initiative is now being done. Communication and transparency are exceptionally important from the side of the governing. I suppose that this will also be a signal, which will be given in the upcoming press conference of Prime Minister Borissov.

Is the monitoring mechanism still needed for Bulgaria? What is the position of GERB – should the monitoring process continue or have we already accomplished enough?

- I would not engage on the position of GERB, I can speak as a personal opinion. I believe that at this point the mechanism continues to be necessary, because it is in the direction of internal order and security. Regarding jurisdiction you cans see, that there are exceptionally many critics. But not in any manner should the mechanism be viewed as a penalty measure. Contrary it should be viewed as a tool, which stimulates our country to move in the right direction and to meet the European standards. So I always look on the mechanism as something positive, despite the critical note, which is present in certain moments, but it really is with the target for us to move in the right direction. That’s why rendering an account of this which has been done and the three conclusions, which I mentioned in the beginning, I believe it will further motivate us to make the reforms, which we have begun.

Source: Europe Gateway

Monika Panayotova: The report of Brussels will acknowledge the right steps of GERB in the fight against corruption

19/07/10

An interview by Lili Granitska for Dnevnik Newspaper

How did you find out that you are becoming Chairperson of the Committee on European Affairs and Oversight of the European Funds?

- My candidacy was discussed in a meeting of the Executive Commission of GERB. My colleagues informed me after the meeting of the decision. It was a surprise for me, but I aware of the exceptional responsibility, which I undertake, heading this commission.

Did you have a meeting with the Prime Minister Boyko Borissov?

- I am in contact with him, because I am responsible for the work of the youth organisation of GERB and the international relations of the party. In this sense it was not needed to have a meeting in advance.

So the prime minister didn’t ask you, for example “Monika, what would you say to become head of the European fund commission”?

- Yes, he asked me after that. All in all the decision was of the whole commission, because the Prime Minister Borissov was in the parliament before that at a meeting of a commission. So that is a mutual decision.

Since when do you have interest in management of European funds, because so far you were not a member of this commission and do you keep your spot in the Foreign Policy and Defence Committee?

- I am keeping my spot in the Foreign Policy and Defence Committee. During the first defining of the composition of the commissions the leadership of GERB, had decided that I need to be in that commission. I haven’t separated myself from the European thematic, because the foreign policy of the country is connected with the foreign policy of the EU.

Separately I have worked on projects connected with the EU. Before I became a member of GERB I was in a non-government organisation the “Economic Policy Institute”. We used to work with projects with the countries from Southeastern Europe with a highlight on membership of countries from the Western Balkans. Parallel with that I graduated an MA on management of projects with a MA thesis on the topic of “The culture factor during management of international projects”.

Have you worked on European projects, connected directly with Bulgaria?

- The Economic Policy Institute has a realized project on the operative programme “Administrative capacity”, as well as a number of projects, connected with our European integration. That is why I am saying that I haven’t strayed from this thematic I just wasn’t in this commission until this moment.

Which will be the first things you will do in the Committee on European Affairs and Oversight of the European Funds?

- In the moment I am in a period of adaptation, I am familiarizing myself with the priorities of the past chairperson. The report of the European Commission for the progress of Bulgaria is forthcoming, as well as the report of the parliamentary commission regarding European funding for their assimilation during the first six months of 2010.

The first challenge, which is up ahead is connected when the Lisbon Treaty takes effect and the role of the national parliaments. Then they will have a key role in the forming of the jurisdiction of the EU. When a normative act comes it will pass through us and the resource commissions in the national parliaments.

In the frame of eight weeks we will have to give a standpoint, in case we have regards in a specific normative act. If one third of the countries members of the European Union don’t pass the bill, it will go back to the European Commission. Only when there is an agreement the bill will go to the European Parliament. From this viewpoint as a capacity and the on time reaction this is a challenge before us a national parliament. The other challenge is connected with the control of the European funds. It is of great importance to accelerate the payment of the operative programs. With the creation of the position of a minister of the European funds a considerable progress can be seen regarding the payments and the negotiation on projects.

For July 2009 when we took the governance of the country, the payments were 0.67% and now they are 4.6%. On negotiations we are at 43% of our budget resources, when last year at this point we were at 10%. There is progress, but our aims are higher – the payments to reach between 10% and 18%, and the negotiated resources – up to 50% until the end of the year. It is a matter of time for the things to happen.

Could you say what you understand by considerable progress in the assimilation of funds, because visibly it is not felt?

- For July 2009 the payments were 0.67% now they are 4.6%. This is a clear increase.

Yes with one ostensible payment on the initiative “JEREMIE” of 200 million euro, but which has not reached the final receivers. In the same time payment to business in the “Competitiveness” programme is insignificant.

- There is a great progress regarding communication and information. A system called ISMM, which follows the spent resources was created and now works. There is no way for the things to happen straight away with a magic wand. For “JEREMIE” as far as I know, if the government hadn’t reacted, we would have risked to lose the 200 million euro.

Now we have kept the opportunity for them to reach the final receivers. We have lost over a year during the starting of the operative programs. When I was in the non-government sector we waited everyday for them to be started. So we lost a lot of time from the beginning, because there wasn’t the needed administrative capacity and the political will.

You said that the institute, for which you have worked, has done a project on “Administrative Capacity”, which was one successful program in the past government. Now four months there haven’t been any payments, is this normal?

- I haven’t directly followed “Administrative Capacity” during the past months, but Minister Donchev states, that its indexes are good. When the Committee on European Affairs and the Oversight of the European Funds finishes the report for the first half of the year, the progress and the flaws will be marked. The report will be objective.

What do you expect from the report of the European Commission for Bulgaria?

- I am an optimist, because the communication with Brussels has been improved. We are doing everything in full transparency. We are trying to avoid the so called effect of surprise, which happened before. One of the priorities of GERB during the European elections was improving the image of the country. We have made significant steps in this direction.

This can be seen in the correspondence of Minister Donchev with the European Commission. The Bulgarian European Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva is accepted really well. It is a pleasure, when I go to Brussels and in informal conversations they associate Bulgaria with the Bulgarian European Commissioner. They say “Mrs. Georgieva – a wonderful proposal from the side of Bulgaria”.

In such moments it is a pleasure, that I am from Bulgaria and that the work of our country is being valued. Now forthcoming is the voting for the European diplomatic service. Mrs. Georgieva is one of the deputies of Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

We all know that, but according to me it is not connected directly with the work of the commission, which you are heading.

- How is it, not connected? The commission is on European questions and the work of the European Commission, the report of the European Commission and everything, which is happening in Brussels, is directly connected with our work.

You want to say that Mrs. Kristalina Georgieva can influence on the report of the European Commission for Bulgaria?

- Don’t impose things, which I have not said.

Why are you highlighting on this employment?

- I am saying that communication has significantly improved and the image of our country is becoming better. In order to be positive marks in the report it is necessary to have a positive image. I am saying the things real, as they are. I feel them this way going to Brussels. I have traveled before and I know what the attitude towards Bulgaria was.

Can we say then, that in the report of Brussels that is forthcoming for Bulgaria, there will be no surprises for the Bulgarian government?

- The direct contacts, the constant connection with Brussels means that in every stage the commission has a view over what is happening.

I am trying to find out if you are expecting an entirely positive report from Brussels?

- There is no way for it to be entirely positive, because we don’t live in ideal conditions. You know what we discovered as inheritance. We are also in a crisis. The report will be objective and the right steps will be remarked, which have been made in specific sectors, for example for what has always been a priority of the government of GERB – the fight against corruption, internal order and security. This is what I think will happen. What will turn out we will see at the final.

On which questions do you expect critics?

- There is no way for me to say at this point, I can only guess, that regarding jurisdiction there will be remarks. There can never be anything 100% ideal, but tries and steps are made in order for things to improve. These moments need to be remarked.

Regional academy of MGERB “European funds and the way towards them”

19/07/10

A regional academy titled “European funds and the way towards them” took place from the 17th of July to the 18th of July 2010 and gathered youths from MGERB, from Sofia, Pernik, Radomir, Kustendil and Blagoevgrad.

The event was opened by Monika Panayotova – Chairwoman of MGERB and Member of Parliament in the 41st National Assembly, Irena Sokolova – Member of Parliament in the 41st National Assembly from the 14th majoritarian election region, Ivo Petrov – regional coordinator of GERB Pernik, Joanna Dochevska – coordinator of MGERB Sofia and Denislav Zahariev – coordinator of MGERB Pernik.

A lecturer in the first part of the training was Joanna Ilieva – Head expert associate in the Committee on European Affairs and Oversight of the European Funds, who showed the participants the different programs, who allow the European funding for Bulgaria, as well as the way for candidacy for them.

The second part of the training was divided into two parts. The first part was lectured by Georgi Pramatarov – Expert “European Programs”, whose lection was on “European money in Bulgarian agriculture”, and familiarised the participants with the “Program for the development of the agriculture regions”, and the expectations and steps, which the projects for the program pass through development and candidacy.

A big interest among the participants was the lecture of Monika Panayotova – Chairwoman of MGERB and Chairperson of the Committee on European Affairs and Oversight of the European Funds in the 41st National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria on the topic of “Communication – from what to say to when to say it”, in which the youths managed to familiarise themselves with non-verbal communication, the principles of successful behaviour and ways to communicate in front of the media.

The program ended with a look on the used election campaigns clips in the different countries.

Monika Panayotova, Member of Parliament from GERB: GERB showed, that there aren’t ours and yours in the party

15/07/10

So far there was a lack of moral in politics we are taking steps to build it. We will be active participants in the daily order of the European Union

- Miss Panayotova today (Editors note – yesterday) you were chosen as Chairperson of the Committee on European Affairs and Oversight of the European Funds. What will be the priorities of your work?

- You know that, so far I haven’t been a member of this commission and because of this I will need a little time for adaptation. As a whole, the course, which is followed by the government, is to be an active participant in the daily order of the European Union. After the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty the role of the national parliaments is exceptionally important and this will be a challenge towards us, as members of parliament. Before the normative acts go for examination and voting in the resource commissions of the European Parliament, they will go through the national parliaments. So in the frame of a couple of weeks we will need to react with a standpoint. The other thing that the commission will be engaged actively, is regarding the control on the European funds. That is why the direct contact with the resource minister Mr. Tomislav Donchev is of exceptional importance. You know that the main targets in this direction are to accelerate payments, to be prepared many new projects, so that in practice the structural and cohesion fund can be used as an anti-crisis measure. After all it’s a question of fresh money and we need to do everything possible, so that they can go into our economy. Particularly now in a period of a crisis, from another side, it is very dynamical, which is happening in Brussels. You know that the foreign policy and the policy for security, is being reorganized after the Lisbon Treaty. So we will have a lot of work, also with the Foreign Policy and Defence Committee. Now is the moment, because from one side the new conception for NATO is being prepared, and from another the new changes for the European policy for security and defence are being introduced. You know that ¾ of the member countries of NATO are members of the European Union, that’s why we will be having joint actions with the resource commission in this direction. It is very important to work as a team, to have coordination and good synchronization with our representatives in the European Parliament, as well, because the area is exceptionally dynamical. There are a lot of changes in Brussels and the active participation of Bulgaria is important.

- As a main drawback was pointed the tempo of assimilation of the European money. Are the things being cleared in this direction?

- Yes. Definitely there is progress with the creation of the position of Mr. Donchev. If a comparison is made, during July 2009 we had payments for 0.67%, while now they are 4.6%. The difference is tangible. The target, which we set forth, is there to be payments between 10% and 11%, which according to the LOTHAR system for accounting of the financial progress of these programs is an achievement. Control over the assimilation must be achieved. Definitely now, there is a change in communication with Brussels. This which we are headed towards is there to be complete transparency and things getting done during direct dialogue. Only in this way will the possibilities for the “unpleasant surprise” effect be eliminated, which we have been witnesses of during the past government. Because of that our country had a negative image. That’s why my appeal to the representatives of the socialists in the European Parliament is for them to be representatives of Bulgaria, and to highlight on the national, rather then the party interest. The image of our country is exceptionally important. Nothing can happen, when you don’t have the mark “Bulgaria”.

- Can a law for lobbyism have a positive effect in this direction?

- Yes, I definitely support the creation of such a law. Even before I became a member of GERB, I was in a non-government organisation and there we worked on projects, connected with lobbyism. But according to me at the moment publicly the term lobbyism is interpreted in a not correct way. Lobbyism is characteristic for all democratic countries. When we speak for lobbyism in the positive manner, it needs to be regulated with a law and be legitimate. This means to be connected with the ethical codex and civil control being asserted on lobbyism. And not in the last place – it needs to be exceptionally transparent. When these three things are not fulfilled, then we are not talking about lobbyism, but for corruption. And you know that a main priority for us, as governing is the fight against corruption. That’s why a law for lobbyism on its own is a necessity, but it is not enough. Everything depends on the members of parliament and on inside control.

- How do you assess the legislative activity of this parliament one year into the government of GERB?

- I think we achieved many things in connection for this National Assembly to be regarded as a more responsible institution. According to me there is a great progress regarding discipline of behavior of work in the commissions. Of course the effect can never be 100%, but at least there is a will for that. Now there is striving for a new type of behavior in parliament. Regarding the normative acts the good thing is that everything is happening in exceptional transparency. This, which GERB is doing, is a precedent. Never before have things happened so openly which, creates a delicate atmosphere. Now everyone knows that every action is watched and when you are not playing by the rules, you are sanctioned. We can not account that also in the sphere of defence, inner order and security and education, there have been really reforming laws, which created the normative frame which allowed for the changes in those spheres. In the end the normative act is a starting point for every single thing.

- Which bills remain priorities for the National Assembly?

- A priority is to pass the election codex, because this is an engagement even in our election campaign. We want to end the vice practice for the changes to occur at 12 without 5. In that way the rules will be the same for everyone and we can follow them.

-Have the scandals around GERB during the past couple of weeks and the followed resignations had a negative effect on the party?

- According to me what happened had a rather healing effect. The leadership showed clearly, that there are no ours and yours in the party. There are clear rules and when you don’t follow them, you are sanctioned. The term “new moral” has already turned into a cliché, because I have already said before that there is no new moral. The reason is that so far there was no such in politic and we are taking steps to build it. Till now moral and politics have always been mutually incompatible. We showed that we have a completely different type of behaviour and that we are not doing PR actions. Now there are principles during politic.

- Did GERB really put an end to the vice practice of the placement of political umbrellas?

- I think so. Our actions show that. That’s why I say that this is a precedent. I don’t think that any of the past governing could deny it. You know in what state the country was left in. These unfulfilled contracts for around 2 billion Bulgarian levs, the abuses which were committed… And you see, that the people, who are responsible for all of this, at the moment are members of parliament. Even their own party is not distancing from them.

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Business card
She was born on the 19th of August 1983 in Sofia. She graduates International Economic Relations in the University of National and World Economy with a specialization in “International Project Management”. She is the Chairwoman of MGERB. She was the director of “Projects connected with Society”, in the Economical Policy Institute until 2008. She is chosen as Chairperson of the Committee on European Affairs and Oversight of the European Funds.


An interview made by Yana Jordanova for Monitor Newspaper

Monika Panayotova: Lobbyism is not untypical for democratic countries, but needs to be regulated

14/07/10

Lobbyism is not untypical for democratic countries, but it needs to be regulated, it needs to be legitimate, i.e. to have double control – from the side of parliament and from the side of the civil society. That’s what was said in the halls of parliament by the newly elected Chairperson of the Committee on European Affairs and Oversight of the European Funds – Monika Panayotova. When lobbyism is not regulated, we speak about corruption. That’s why the next challenge for our parliament will be to create a law for lobbyism and to head out of this etiquette “lobbyism”, because everything is lobbyism on its own, but it needs to be regulated, so it can be transparent, stated Panayotova.

Regarding her new position Panayotova said: “On principle I am a team player, so I will continue to work with a team. This is exceptionally important for me. The commission is exceptionally responsible. After the Lisbon Treaty it will be a big challenge for us as a national parliament to manage to use, that the role of the national parliaments is increasing vastly. We already have an active role in the forging of the EU legislation, so that will be a priority of the adaptation of the work of the National Assembly to the expectations of the Lisbon Treaty”.

She added that she will work in close cooperation with the Minister charged of EU funds management – Tomislav Donchev. Our main priorities are to accelerate the payments and to prepare new projects, so that the resources can be used as an anti-crisis measure which are on the structural and the cohesion fund, said she.

I will give everything, which depends on me, she stated.

Source: "Focus” Agency