At the invitation of Monika Panayotova the priorities of the new Hungarian EU presidency were presented in the National Assembly

19/01/2011

At the invitation of Monika Panayotova, Chairwoman of the Committee on European Affairs and oversight of EU funds in the National Assembly, during a joint meeting of the Committee on European Affairs and control of EU funds and the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence HE Ms Judith Lang, Ambassador of Hungary in Bulgaria presented the priorities of the new Hungarian EU presidency in the company of colleagues from Trio - HE Marc Michielsen, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium and HE Rafael Mendivil Peydro, Ambassador of Spain in Bulgaria.

The new Presidency will focus on four priority areas:

• Promoting the growth, employment, social inclusion. During the Hungarian presidency there should be launched the European semester and created a microeconomic mechanism for oversight.

• A stronger Europe - the motto of the new presidency. Efforts will be focused in three areas - a common energy policy, review of the common agricultural policy and discussions on the future of cohesion policy. Hungary declares its readiness of shaping common policies and water sector, which includes the EU strategy for the Danube region.

• "EU - closer to citizens” by the implementation of the Stockholm program, the Charter of Human Rights, incorporated in the Treaty of Lisbon and of course, the enlargement of the Schengen area. HE Judith Lang expressed her confidence that Bulgaria's entry into Schengen would take place as soon as possible and after meeting all the criteria. HE Rafael Mendivil Peydro, Ambassador of Spain in Bulgaria also demonstrated the positive attitude of his country on this issue, stressing that in Spain the issue of Schengen membership of Bulgaria and Romania was never political, but only technically. In this regard, the President of KEVKEF, Ms. Monica Panayotova expressed confidence that by the end of March 2011 Bulgaria will have fulfilled the technical criteria for membership in the Schengen zone; the focus would remain on the political challenges. Ms. Panayotova emphasized that for Bulgaria entering into the Schengen would not only eliminate physical boundaries but it is a huge commitment to maintaining security at the external EU borders.

• EU enlargement and strengthening the global role of the Union. HE Lang expressed her hope that during the Hungarian Presidency negotiations with Croatia would be finalized and there would be working on negotiations with Turkey. Focus on the integration of Western Balkan countries would be maintained. Ambitions of the Hungarian Presidency in this area are a continuation of what was done under the Belgian presidency in the region. As HE Marc Michielsen, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium in Bulgaria noted, Montenegro had received the status of country candidate for membership. Such status was also given to Serbia. HE Judith Lang expressed confidence that during this semester the first results of the negotiations with Iceland would be seen. But besides accelerating the process of integration, in order to strengthen its global role the EU should reconsider its relations with neighboring countries, said Hungarian Ambassador. The Chairwoman of KEVKEF Monika Panayotova added that this would ensure the security of the Union, but only through solidarity and cohesion among member states.

Monica Panayotova held a meeting with the EU Commissioner on Taxation, Customs, Anti-fraud and Audit - Algirdas Šemeta

15/01/2011

The chairwoman of the European Affairs and control of EU funds Monika Panayotova held a meeting with Mr. Algirdas Šemeta - EU Commissioner on Taxation, Customs, Anti-fraud and Audit. The meeting was attended by MPs, members of the European Affairs and control of EU funds.

In his welcoming speech, Mr. Šemeta expressed his pleasure to meet the Bulgarian MPs and reassured that the active dialogue between the European institutions and the national parliaments is extremely important, especially in the Lisbon Treaty context. Mr. Šemeta noted that the principle areas for Bulgaria to focus its efforts on are fighting corruption and fraud; finalizing the lawsuits, initiated by OLAF and recovering the unrightfully spent EU funding. In this regard, Mr. Šemeta pointed out that good financial governance and fraud control would have key significance in the negotiations on the next financial framework of the EU budget. “The efficiency of Bulgaria’s judicial system is the main problem we address”, the EU Commissioner remarked. He also mentioned that the problem had been identified in the assessment report, prepared within the Mechanism for Cooperation and Verification.

Ms. Panayotova emphasized on the importance of an independent judicial system, sharing her belief that the will for reforms has to emerge from the system itself and shouldn’t be subject to outside influence.Ms. Panayotova, for her part, expressed her confidence that the dialogue between the national parliaments and the European Commission in the light of the Lisbon Treaty would deepen even more in the future. She also highlighted the key functions of the Committee she chairs. She explained that the CEAOEF exercises parliamentary control over the absorption of EU funds in Bulgaria through regular hearings, related to the progress made under the Programs, funded by the EU. This form of parliamentary control over the EU funds management is a necessary corrective and preventive measure and helps Bulgarian authorities in their pursuit of transparent and effective expenditure of the EU funds. The CEAOEF control realizes through the elaboration of Midterm and Annual Reports on the absorption of EU funds in the Republic of Bulgaria, incl. the Schengen Facility. Together with the findings on the progress, achieved under the monitored Operational Programs and financial instruments, these reports also contain a detailed analysis of the problems in the EU funds management system and recommendations for their solution. According to Ms. Panayotova, the MPs from the governing majority highly appreciate the citizens’ control over the EU funds absorption and stay in touch with the direct beneficiaries, who are closer to the real progress and problems of the Operation Programs.She greeted the efforts of the Bulgarian Government to guarantee the transparency of the absorption – the implementation of the UMIS system and the regular meetings between the Managing Authorities and the beneficiaries, dedicated to resolving difficulties in the Grant Schemes application and the practical implementation of the projects.

Monika Panayotova: We don’t have a single political employment of ambassadors since GERB is in power

14/01/2011

We don’t have a single political employment of ambassadors since GERB is in power. This speaks for itself stated from the parliamentary tribune Monika Panayotova from the Political Group of GERB in response to the accusations from Angel Naydenov, that they choose to read which European documents. Angel Naydenov stated that this declaration is a peculiar alibi for peculiar actions, undertaken by the Council of Ministers. By his words it is a source for pressure against the president and is a seemingly a screen.

Panayotova pointed the European documents on which they stood upon from GERB during the preparation of the text of the declaration for recalling the ambassadors. Monika Panayotova pointed the passed by the European Parliament resolution, in which it is clearly pointed, that the EU expresses regret that in some countries the access to documents form personal character is still unexplainably limited. In the quoted texts it is pointed that the EP decisively condemns the crimes of the totalitarian and authoritarian regimes.

Panayotova based herself also on the two main documents with which the status of the Intelligence service is defined, in which it is pointed, that the intelligence is pointed towards the main enemy – the capitalistic from 1963 and later changed during 1973 – that the main target of intelligence is pointed towards the main enemy the USA and its allies – Greece and Turkey. “We really base ourselves on documents, facts. Thanks to all of the rest of the parliamentary groups who have overcome their own private interest”, she pointed. According to her words it is unacceptable in the 21st century to speak about private rule, which holds the public and pointed that it is time to follow the last examples of the countries from Central Europe – Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia.

Panayotova also said that the alternative that our country will go on will depend on the approach of our head of state and whether he will acknowledge the will of the National Assembly. According to her words if he acknowledges the will of the national representatives the question will arise for what revival is the head of state fighting for. According to her words – it is necessary to state clearly before the our European parents and NATO that Bulgaria is ready to end its dependencies on the totalitarian regime.

Monika Panayotova: There must be a clear sign that Bulgaria wants to renew its diplomatic office

14/01/2011

Monika Panayotova, one of the authors of the declaration of principles on which to withdraw the diplomats, indicated several options to rehabilitate the reputation and prestige of the Foreign Ministry as an institution and the country as a whole. "To give a clear sign that Bulgaria wants to renew its diplomatic service, because it’s unacceptable most unreformed institution for the moment to be the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The second option, which opens is really in a delicate manner to avoid both personal and state discredit. And I think the third option, which opens in front of the head of state, because so far he has always declared that he respects the Constitution, that he unites the nation and from this perspective, it's really an opportunity for him to prove or missed opportunity to actually comply with the will of the National Assembly, "explained Monika Panayotova.

Monika Panayotova: It is exceptionally important that we manage to fulfill the technical criteria for Schengen

06/01/2011

For us it is exceptionally important to manage to fulfill the technical criteria for the joining of Bulgaria to the Schengen space. The government has put the target to be 100% prepared by March by the viewpoint of our technical readiness. This was said in the broadcast “This is Bulgaria” of radio “Focus”, the Chairwoman of the Committee on European Affairs and Oversight of the European Funds in the parliament and a Member of Parliament from GERB Monika Panayotova.

She pointed, that despite the contradicting signs by the Hungarian presidency during today about the deadline for the joining, she is an optimist, that our country will enter Schengen during March.“Joining Schengen has two dimensions – technical and political criteria. I believe that Bulgaria is really going on program – this which is expected from us to be done as procedures and fulfilling criteria, we are doing it. The Bulgarian government made a plan maximum for the assimilation of the whole amount, which totals 129 million euro. By data of the Ministry of Interior they are now assimilated 100% percent. In the period 2007-2008 we have had just 1.43% assimilation”, underlined Panayotova.She pointed that she has invited her colleagues from the Bundestag and from the French Senate in the frame of the Hungarian presidency to visit Bulgaria to see really from the scene what is happening.

“The fulfillment of the technical criteria is a whole process, which is expected to end during the month of March, in that we are moving in the direction 100% readiness on all boarders, which are in the frame of the criteria”, explained the Chairwoman of the Committee on European Affairs and Oversight of the European Funds.According to Monika Panayotova the political parties have a nationally responsible position on the topic “Schengen”.“If we undermine the truest in our country, we can not expect everything will develop in the interest of the country”, pointed the member of parliament.