Happy third birthday MGERB

24/02/11

It is three years to the day that in front of over 800 young people from across the country MGERB was established formally as a youth organization of PP GERB!

Then, Galya Vassileva, Zhivko Todorov, Kalin Zahariev Lubomir Drekov, Sarah Ikonomova and Christo Gadjev were elected at the National Executive Council (NEC) of the organization.

Monika Panayotova was unanimously elected for president of MGERB.

Today, three years later, the executive body of MGERB and PP GERB congratulate anniversary to its young colleagues and wish much success in personal and professional life to all members of MGERB in the country!

Good luck, colleagues and let us prove that Bulgaria can!

MGERB honored the memory of the Apostle of Freedom

20/02/11

On February 19th MGERB-Sofia representatives honored the memory of Vasil Levski on the occasion of the 138th death anniversary as they laid bouquet of flowers at the monument of the Apostle in Sofia.

The youth together with their chairwoman Monika Panayotova, Member of Parliament in the 41st National Assembly and the Chair of the Committee on European Affairs and Oversight of the European Funds witnessed the bishop’s memorial service in the ancient temple “St. Sofia”. Later on the members of the organization participated in the religious procession and solemn ceremony at the national hero’s monument in Sofia in the presence of the Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, the President of the National Assembly Tsetska Tsacheva, The President Georgi Parvanov, Sofia Mayor Yordanka Fandakova, ministers , MPs, municipal councilors and many citizens.

The bouquet of flowers presented the youth’s respect and honor to the Apostle’s the holy deed.

MGERB participated in a conference on topic “What kind of Mediterranean union do we want”

07/02/11

The international secretary of MGERB – Hristo Gadzhev participated in an international conference organized by the youth organization of the EPP (YEPP) on subject “What kind of Mediterranean union do we want”. It was held between February 3rd and February 6th in the town of Caserta – Italia. More than 70 participants from over 50 organizations from Europe, Middle East and North Africa participated in it. Main topic was the regional collaboration in politic, economic and cultural aspect between the European Union and the Mediterranean basin.

The conference passed in the presence of Italian politicians as Antonio Tajani - EU Transport Commissioner and Vice President of EPP, the ministers of Youth Affairs – Georgia Melony, regional and district governors of the provinces of Naples, Caserta and the Campania region and others. Main issue in the discussion was the common EU action in the Mediterranean and North Africa, and not perceived as a new kind of colonialism but as an integration and partnership” Viewed through the eyes of Africans”. Another main issue was the fact the Europe looks like Italy in 16th century – the richest region in the continent, but divided into many small states. In the process of creating nation-states, Italy does not achieve unification. This is followed by more than 300 years period of regional impoverishment and control of other countries in all processes in the peninsula. So in the late 19th century when Italy achieves unification it is the poorest country in Europe. If Europe fails to achieve its integration in the next 20 years it’s really possible the Italy’s experience to be repeated by Europe, but in continental size and become a victim of great powers. If we want to preserve the culture and way of life - the only right way is a full EU integration.

MGERB participated in meeting of EDS on the topic "European and regional integration - the role of young"

06/02/2011


From 31 January to 5 February 2010 in Brussels, Belgium, the third meeting of the Board of European Democrat students (EDS) was held - the largest student political organization in the EU, associate member of the European People's Party.
The event was attended by over 200 delegates and guests from over 25 political youth organizations, and alumni of the organization, honorary chairpersons and members of the Bureau.
The main emphasis was put on the 50th anniversary of the ESD, which was celebrated with many events in the Belgian capital. Along with this, the 100 anniversary of Ronald Reagan’s birth was celebrated.
Representative of MGERB was Kalin Zahariev, deputy international secretary of MGERB.
The official opening was on 1 February with a discussion "Belgium - one country, two societies. The panel was held at the headquarters of the Christian Democrat and Flemish Party. Guests in the discussion were Professor Dr. Gunter Maes (Heselts University), Mr Peter van Rompuy (representative of a group of Christian Democrat and Flemish Party), Prof. Pierre Varkauteren (Catholic University of Mons) and Mr. Francis Delpere, (Chairman of the parliamentary group of Humanist Democratic Centre). The main theme of the discussion was related to political crisis and attempts to establish a government in Belgium.
In the evening of February 1 was the celebration of 50 years, European Democrats. It was held at the Palace of the Academies in Brussels.
Official guests included Carl Bildt, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden, former president of ESD, Wilfried Martens, President of the European Peoples’s Party, Hans-Gert Poettering, Chairman of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and former president of the European Parliament, Antonio Lopez Isturis, Secretary General of the European People's Party, Othmar Karas, Vice President of the EPP in the European Parliament. Moderator of the event was Tommy Huhtanen, Director of the Center for European Studies and a former President of ESD. Participants of the event were greeted by a special video message from President Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission.
On 2 February, the program continued with three panels on the theme of the Third meeting of the EDS.
The panels were opened by Josef Sayer, Vice Chairman of the EPP in the European Parliament. The panels were titled "The Visegrad countries, Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership. Speakers of the discussion were H.E. Milena Vichenova, Ambassador of the European Parliament, Representation of the Czech Republic in the EU; H.E. Yan Tombinski, Ambassador of the European Parliament, Representation of the Republic of Poland in EU; H.E. Ivan Korchok, Ambassador of the European Parliament, Representation of the Slovak Republic in the EU; Botond Zakoni, Representation of Hungary in the EU; Ivan Hodach, Secretary General of the European Automobile Manufacturers Association in Brussels; H.E. Edward Kukan, head of the EP delegation to the parliaments of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania and Kosovo, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovakia; Jan Myulfet, Chairman of Microsoft for Europe; Yachek Wolski, Vice Chairman of the EPP; Dr. Ansgar Tetmayer, representative of the Board of Deutsche Bank.
On 3th February the participants visited the University of Leuven. There they met with representatives of the management of the university and asked questions.

Later the traditional sessions of the permanent working groups: “Higher Education and Science”, "Policy for Europe" and "Human Rights" were held. During the meetings each organization had the right to propose a draft position, resolution or other document, followed by discussion, amendment and submission to the agenda of the meeting of the Board of EDS.

On February 4, the meeting of the Board of EDS was held. The agenda included report of the President of EDS, of the members of the Bureau, presentation of the new member organizations, guests and observers. Each organization briefly presented its current activities and after that the working groups presented their work. There were also discussed and approved the documents that had been already considered in working groups. Resolution of EDS on the role of youth in politics was adopted. The document was based on the position of MGERB (Youth as a significant factor in policy-making and decision-making processes). This was the second resolution to EDS, based on document prepared by MGERB. Our expectations are that it will be adopted by the European People's Party, as happened with the previous one. Delegates of the Council also adopted three new organizations in EDS from Albania, Great Britain and Latvia.

The official conclusion of the event was held n the Hilton Hotel in Brussels, where participants attended the ball on the occasion of 100 anniversary of Ronald Reagan.

Monika Panayotova and Dobroslav Dimitrov honoured the victims of communism

01/02/2011

On February 1, 1945 first and second supreme composition of the People's Court pronounced the largest number of political death sentences in Bulgarian history. Sentenced to death were 67 members of the XXV National Assembly, 23 ministers from the three governments for the period January 1941 to September 3, 1944 led by Prime Minister Bogdan Filov, Dobri Bozhilov and Ivan Bagryanov. Also sentenced to death were the three regents of the minor Simeon II - Prince Cyril Preslavski, Bogdan Filov and gen. Nikola Mihov, nine secretaries to the palace, publishers of newspapers and publicists, 47 generals and colonels. The sentences were executed on the same day. The rest MPs and ministers were sentenced to various prison terms. According to a report by the State Security for a period of nine months there had been displaced 28,131 people and thousands were killed.

On 1 February 2011Bulgaria for first time honours the victims of the communist regime.The decision was taken by the Government on a proposal by the former Presidents Zhelyu Zhelev and Petar Stoyanov.

In memory of the thousands killed by the atrocities of the communist regime, on behalf of the parliamentary group of GERB, the chairpersons of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence - Dobroslav Dimitrov and the Committee on European Affairs and oversight of EU funds - Monika Panayotova brought a wreath in the garden of the National Palace of Culture at the monument of perished.

Monika Panayotova: We have a stable system for monitoring EU funds

01/02/2011

The Public Procurement Law should be discussed widely with the beneficiaries to reach a maximum support

Monika Panayotova is a Bachelor in International Relations and Master in International Economic Relations with specialization "Management of International Projects" of University of National and World Economy. She was Director of “Projects and Public Relations” in the Economic Policy Institute. She was elected to parliament as a majority candidate of GERB 24th Constituency-Sofia; Chairwoman of the youth organization of GERB. She is currently Chairwoman of the Committee on European Affairs and oversight of the EU funds.

- Ms Panayotova, last week the committee that you headed, announced the annual report on management of EU funds in Bulgaria. What are the most important findings in it?
- There are received about 10% of EU funds and agreed 36.74 percent, which means that beneficiaries actually received 1.6 billion levs. Let me mention also that from December 2009 to December 2010 there were paid 1.2 billion levs. The conclusion we draw is that there is sustainable growth of absorption and negotiation of the resource. The figure 10% itself is not much, but given the delays over the years, I think this is a significant success for the country. Regarding the agreed resources on first positions remain the OP "Human Resources", "Regional Development and Administrative Capacity”. According to the indicator rate of payment on the first place are OP "Administrative Capacity", "Competitiveness” and “Regional Development”. But to be honest, we must say that outside the JEREMIE instrument real growth of utilization of OP “Competitiveness” is about 2.34%. Programme for rural development compared with other 7 OPs marked the highest percentage of utilization of resources - 19 percent and 37% agreed from the funds. Strong growth of the OP "Regional Development" can be explained by making direct contact with beneficiaries who are mainly the municipalities. Low levels of negotiation, but with good financial performance are programs “Transport” and “Technical Assistance”. Poor performance, accumulated delays, but taken for compensation in 2011, is our assessment for program "Environment”. In summary we can say that in 2009 our country was the only one in the EU, which had no positive assessments and this blocked the interim payments. Following receipt of these assessments there were the payments were granted, which is very important in a crisis. As a result of the undertaken institutional, administrative and legislative measures now we have a stable system of coordination and control of EU funds. There is a sustainable growth rate of resource utilization. The system opens.

If you have to sort the problems on whose solution depends the acceleration of the process, which will you place in the beginning?
- The two main problems are still the insufficient administrative capacity and the Public Procurement Law / PPA. A working group under the LPP have already been formed. Changes will be essential and will accelerate the procedures next year, because most of the funding goes under this Act. Our recommendation is that the draft should be widely discussed with the beneficiaries to reach a wide support. The insufficient administrative capacity is a problem that still exists and it is reported in the interim and the annual report of the Committee. We see that measures are taken. On the one hand, the possibility to use specific expertise from international financial institutions opens. This will be within the program "Technical assistance" and will not affect the budget. On the other hand - the JASPERS initiative will set up panels of experts who will help direct beneficiaries. It is also important to seek an opportunity to accelerate and simplify procedures. European funds will become available to more beneficiaries when the documents are unified and the bureaucratic burden is reduced. Control is really important but it should be understood that more administration and bureaucracy does not mean more effective control.

- Administration has not learned quickly to handle the projects yet, or beneficiaries are not able to make good suggestions?
- Everything depends on the concrete operational program. For example, in OP “Transport” beneficiaries are government agencies, and for OP "Environment" are municipalities. It is quite different in the program "Human Resources", in which a beneficiary is the NGO sector, which over the years failed to properly prepare. In OP “Competitiveness” the initiative is fully in the business. Available information is very important and it is a good step that 27 information centers will be created in order not to concentrate everything in Sofia. And another - last year the rate of turnover among the administration is much lower, which means that additional funding was able to retain experts.

- When a special law for EU funds will be adopted?
- We have over 20 ministerial decrees governing this matter at the moment. There should be considered a law on European funding, which will enable the settlement of public relations and greater legal certainty. If it is a time for a new institutional framework, it would be important to be introduced by a law. This will also show a clear national vision for the management of EU funds. This law will work in the next programming period. If we take this step now, it is likely to accommodate the confusion and the process to be delayed. But we recommend unification of application and accounting documents to be considered. Concentration should be not so much on the form of reporting the projects, but rather on their performance and thus to seek the maximum impact on society and citizens. As there is a discrepancy between the numbers of governing bodies, the Information System for Management and Monitoring and the National Fund, it is important to achieve data synchronization in order not to get different interpretations.

In your opinion why the OP “Competitiveness”, which all call the program of business is going the slowest?
- 198 million euro were transferred to venture capital and 1 million euro to provide for so-called “business angels”. The question now is the means that are considered utilized to reach real business. I think we need to use the experience of the program "Regional Development” and “Human Resources” for direct contact with beneficiaries. It is now clear that we need closer interaction with business and further information on procedures. JEREMIE initiative itself is successful because it will help the venture business. The issue now is as soon as possible to make Holding Fund work and the beneficiaries take advantage of it and avoid the risk of reflux of interest in the program.

- In recent days the letter from Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso is being commented, which is actually from the middle of December. What is your comment?
- The main problem areas that are pointed are OP "Transport” and “Environment”. The problem of the OP" Transport "is that over the years a delay has been accumulated. Error of this program is from the beginning because concentration of heavy infrastructure projects is allowed without the necessary readiness. This should not be repeated in the next programming period. A good example is the launch of “Trakia” motorway project, before the approval of Application form by the Commission in order not to delay implementation. Of course, there should always be recognized that such cases also pose risks. There should be paid attention to the railway transport, which shows low levels. “Trakia” motorway and metropolitan subway improve absorption, but we call for seriously intensification of construction activities concerning other projects. OP "Environment" is essential for the reform in the water sector and we think that we must strengthen the capacity of municipalities, which are the main beneficiaries. If there is no project readiness in priority agglomeration, it is better to consider and to redirect funds to agglomerations with less than 10 000 inhabitants.