Representative of MGERB participated in training of the International Republican Institute

20/09/11

Vladimir Stanev – coordinator of Youth GERB Kostinbrod and member of the executive council of MGERB – Sofia region participated in international training, organized by the International Republican Institute(IRI) on topic: ‘Local and regional policies’, held in Novi Sad, Serbia. The seminar was attended by 20 young people from 11 european countries. Lecturers who take part in the training were experienced in running and winning campaigns for local elections and conducting a proper local policy.

Main topics were: “All policies are local”; “Organizing a successful campaign for local elections: strategies and planning”; “Transparency and involvement of local citizens in decision-making process in the management of a municipality”; “WEB 2.0 – Social media changing the way we make elections”; “How to win elections by e-campaign with small budget?”

During the lectures there were discussed local policies and practices in conducting campaigns for local and national elections. There were expressed different points in making elections in Slovakia, Romania, Serbia, France, USA.

One of the most interesting information was about the success reached in the city of Martin, Slovakia where after the introduction of transparent public procurement procedures through appropriate software, there could be observed online by every citizen how to conduct each auction and what price was achieved. For the period in which this method was used, there were saved huge amounts, which the municipality focused on new projects. This transparency guaranteed the winning of a second term in the local elections in 2010.

Two decades of democracy and sustainable development in Central and Eastern Europe"

19/09/2011

Between 15 to 18 September 2011 in Prague, Czech Republic, the first meeting of the Council of the European Democrat Students (EDS) - the student organization of the European People's Party - was held. The event was attended by 60 delegates from 26 political youth organizations as well as guests from EDS. Representatives of MGERB were Kalin Zahariev, deputy international secretary of MGERB and Vice President of EDS, and Borislav Iliev, coordinator of MGERB Pleven.

The first day of the event began with a panel discussion, which was held at a local technical university. Guest lecturer was the Minister of Environment of the Czech Republic, Mr. Tomash Chalupa. There were discussed main measures in environmental protection in the Czech Republic and also linking economic growth with environmental protection. The second panel was held with the participation of Mrs. Ruth Bijkova, former Deputy Minister of Environment. The focus of the discussion was Prague and measures for better environment. The third guest speaker was Dana Drabova, expert from the State Office for Nuclear Safety. The focus of the topic was put on the future of nuclear energy after the crisis in Japan and Germany's decision to reduce significantly the production of electricity from nuclear power plants. The fourth and last topic of the day was associated with the diversification of energy resources. The lecturer, Mr. Jan Bauer, Chairman of the Committee for European Affairs presented a strategy for diversification of the Czech Republic.

On the next day of the event, after two morning discussion, there were held the first sessions of the three permanent working groups of European students Democrats. They all discussed the draft resolution "Two decades of democracy and sustainable development in Central and Eastern Europe" which was written by MGERB. The afternoon sessions of the working groups took place in discussion and amendment of other materials provided to voting for second time by the Board of EDS. In the working group "Higher education and science," Kalin Zahariev presented a project for collecting and analyzing data in the field of higher education in the EU. The project aimed to provide topics for the work of EDS, based on facts and analyze on the current state of the sector. The idea for the project came from MGERB.

Later in the day, separate from the sessions, the meeting of the Bureau of EDS was held. In a format of President, Secretary and Deputy Presidents there were discussed organizational issues for future events, current activities, and other issues. It became clear that resolution of EDS for the financing of higher education during the financial crisis, written on material from MGERB, was adopted as an official position of the EPP. It was expected in the near future that amendments from MGERB to the draft of political platform of EPP would be adopted. They were related to the inclusion of a new chapter in the document connected with student and youth issues as a priority of the EPP.

During the last day started a working session on the adoption of resolution "Two decades of democracy and sustainable development in Central and Eastern Europe." The discussion was led by Kalin Zahariev and at the end of the session it was adopted unanimously.

After that the meeting of the Council of EDS began. The agenda included reports of the President, Vice Presidents, report to the budget of EDS, organizational and other issues.

The international secretary of MGERB took part in the meeting of the Council of YEPP

12/09/11

In the period between the 8th and 11th of September in Kiev, Ukraine was held the meeting of the Council of YEPP (the youth organisation of the EPP) on the topic “The democratic process in Ukraine 1991 – 2011: The results after 20 years”. MGERB was represented by its International Secretary Hristo Gadzhev.

During 2011 the political situation in Ukraine became tense after the arrests of several leaders of the opposition and the start of a series of trials in court, the most significant is against the former Prime Minister of Ukraine – Yulia Tymoshenko, who was left under guard a few days before the conference.

The main topics were freedom of speech, the level of democracy and rule of law, as well as the role of the economy of the European Union for the future positive development of Ukraine. In the conference took part several representatives of the opposition parties, representatives of non-government organisations, representatives of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and others.

The main message of the conference is that the European People’s Party will not stop to support the democratically thinking people in country. The EPP will observer for the upholding of human rights and the rule of law in the actions of the government towards the opposition and the citizens of Ukraine. The made findings will be the main moving force in determining the decisions of the EPP in the continuation of the negotiations between the EU and Ukraine for the further European integration of the country,

The conference of the youths of the EPP was the first step from a series of initiatives of the European Christian Democrats for achieving fair and just relations towards the opposition in Ukraine. In the frame of September there is scheduled to be a visit from the President of the European People’s Party Wilfried Martens, who will observe the trial against Yulia Tymoshenko.

Youths and ministers from GERB followed the announcement of the presidential candidate pair of the party

04/09/2011

During the Fourth Summer University of MGERB which was held in Varna from the 3rd to the 6th of September – youths, ministers, MP’s and MEP’s from GERB followed the live announcement of the presidential candidate pair of PP GERB.

The youths followed the announcement of the candidates for president and vice-president from the party, after which they stood up and strongly applauded the announcement of the names of the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works and the Minister of Justice. The official nomination of Rosen Plevneliev caused a wide wave of approval among the participants of the university.

Monika Panayotova – Chairwoman of MGERB and Member of Parliament in the 41st National Assembly commented the nomination of the candidate president from GERB Rosen Plevneliev, as a well thought choice of the leadership of PP GERB and shared that she believes that Minister Plevneliev is the person, which will give a new image to the presidential institution, as it will start working for the Bulgaria brand and it will no longer only have representative functions. “The new president will not only be a unifier of the nation, but will point attention towards preserving and developing its potential. Due to this I believe that he will be the president of young people”, commented Panayotova.

The Minister of Defence Anyu Angelov wished the future president, fulfilling the function of Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Bulgaria to acknowledge the White Book for Defence, as his guide book in the sphere of defence.

The Minister of Education, Youth and Science Sergei Ignatov commented that Rosen Plevneliev and Margarita Popova are: “one good European pair”, Traicho Traikov, Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism regretted that he loses two colleagues in the Council of Ministers, but stated his confidence that they will be the winning pair in the presidential elections.