MGERB is withdrawing from the Initiative committee for the creation of a National Youth Council

On the 21st of July 2010 with a letter to the Initiative committee for the creation of a National Youth Forum /IC/ MGERB expressed its concerns and worries regarding the process for the creation of a National Youth Forum, which started during March 2010. MGERB has supported the creation of a youth representation in Bulgaria and has worked actively in the IC with political and personnel resource from the beginning.

An exceptionally important moment is the fact, that the energy of the young people is gathered and has reached the moment for the discussion of real and structured youth policy. But it is important for us that this energy is directed in the right direction and to focus on one working structure, in which the main target should be – dialogically building policies.

Precisely in this direction, we have expressed multiple times our concerns, regarding the structure, as well as that the youth representation can be used for service of private party interests. The doubts of the organisation were confirmed, when they were expressed from non-government organisations, as well as political organisations. Having in mind the concerns around the criteria for the representation of organisations in the current structure of the National Youth Forum, we from MGERB believe that, despite continuing to support the idea for the creation of a National Youth Forum will withdraw from the Initiative committee for its creation.

We support the idea for the national youth organ to be regulated with a law for the youth and we will work intensely in this direction, as we leave ourselves open for constructive dialogue on questions regarding youth policy and we will be glad to achieve a functioning representation of the young people in Bulgaria, which will be a generator of creative ideas and to work for the development of the sector of youth policies.

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.