Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05SOFIA859
2005-05-11 13:52:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Sofia
Cable title:  

BULGARIAN PARLIAMENT RATIFIES EU ACCESSION TREATY, RULING

Tags:  PGOV PREL ECON SOCI BU EUN 
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UNCLAS SOFIA 000859 

SIPDIS


SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON SOCI BU EUN
SUBJECT: BULGARIAN PARLIAMENT RATIFIES EU ACCESSION TREATY, RULING
PARTY EYES ELECTORAL BOOST

Ref: (A) SOFIA 780 (B) SOFIA 623

UNCLAS SOFIA 000859

SIPDIS


SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON SOCI BU EUN
SUBJECT: BULGARIAN PARLIAMENT RATIFIES EU ACCESSION TREATY, RULING
PARTY EYES ELECTORAL BOOST

Ref: (A) SOFIA 780 (B) SOFIA 623


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Bulgaria's parliament ratified May 11 the EU
accession treaty, as another step on the way to join the European
Union on January 1, 2007. The document, signed in Luxembourg on
April 25, passed with 231 votes in favor, one against and two
abstentions. To come into force, the treaty must be ratified by
all current EU member states before 2007. Bulgaria's self-imposed
speedy ratification is motivated predominantly by domestic
political pressure. PM Simeon Saxe-Coburg Gotha's ruling party
hopes to use Bulgaria's impending EU membership to boost its
chances for the June general elections. END SUMMARY


2. (SBU) Bulgaria, as well as neighboring Romania, completed EU
entry talks in 2004 and signed the accession treaty on April 25,
2005 in Luxembourg (Ref. A). Bulgarian officials claim the speedy
ratification is intended to help kick-off the ratification process
by member states, especially given the uncertainty surrounding the
May 29 EU Constitution Referendum in France. However, Bulgaria's
self-imposed rush is motivated mostly by the domestic political
calendar. The PM's ruling party hopes the ratification will give
the party a boost in the June 25 elections. The ex-king movement
faces a strong challenge by the main opposition Socialists who,
according to recent polls retain nearly a 10 percent lead (Ref. B).


3. (U) In a speech to parliament, PM Saxe-Coburg said the historic
decision should motivate Bulgaria to work harder to achieve its
target EU entry date. Parliament speaker Borislav Velikov termed
the ratification a milestone in Bulgaria's post-communist history
while Nikolay Mladenov from the center-right opposition UDF said it
should put an end to Bulgarians' fears that the EU is a prestigious
club closed to the small Balkan nation. Socialist leader Sergei
Stanishev hailed the ratification, but pointed to the lack of
transparency surrounding the obligations that the government has
undertaken as part of the treaty. Former Prime Minister Ivan
Kostov, whose center-right government launched the EU entry talks
in 1999, noted the country needed to do more to reform its judicial
system and strengthen the rule of law. These areas are seen by the
EU as the greatest threat to successful accession.


4. (SBU) The ruling party's efforts to gain public support by
boasting about its EU accession achievements suffered a setback
last week. On May 5, the two biggest groups in the European
Parliament - the conservative European People's Party and the Party
of the European Socialists - proposed delaying observer status for
the new parliamentarians from Bulgaria and Romania until 1 January
2006, or 1 January 2007 in the event of the activation of the
safeguard clause. In comparison, the 10 new members that joined as
part of the 2004 wave of accession were invited to send
representatives to the EU parliament as soon as they signed the
treaty. Bulgaria will be entitled to send 18 representatives.
Government officials put a brave face to the news, which made front-
page headlines in Bulgaria. PM Saxe-Coburg said it would not
affect Bulgaria's EU accession, EU Minister Meglena Kuneva termed
it "a tempest in a teapot" and Foreign Minister Passy noted that
Bulgaria has already been granted an observer status in the
European Commission and the European Council. However, the
European Parliament's decision could scale down the ruling party's
plans to use the EU as a key theme in the one-month election
campaign that starts May 25.


5. (SBU) COMMENT: Whether or not its efforts on behalf of EU
accession gain the PM's party additional vote remains to be seen.
However, it is clear that Bulgarians of all political stripes are
committed to moving forward on the EU accession, even if they don't
fully understand the responsibilities and benefits membership
grants. END COMMENT