site.btaUPDATED EC and ECB Reports Justify All of President Radev's Concerns, Says Vice President Iliana Iotova

The reports by the European Commission and the European Central Bank justify all the reservations and concerns expressed by President Rumen Radev when he proposed a referendum on the euro [which was later rejected by Parliament], Vice President Iliana Iotova told journalists at the Ilieva Niva site near the village of Glumovo on Saturday, where she attended the traditional National Thracian Youth Convention.

“You can see that the findings are quite serious, the warnings are substantial, and we get the impression that the European institutions are now giving us a huge credit of trust to fulfill all their recommendations,” Iotova explained. She pointed to the issues ranging from the quality of governance, to money laundering, and the fact that Bulgaria is on the “grey list.” She also mentioned the state of the Bulgarian economy, its stability, and the requirements for full-fledged membership in the Economic and Monetary Union.

“We are late with the public awareness campaign. Secondly, efforts must now be focused on ensuring that the fears of Bulgarian citizens do not become a reality,” the Vice President further noted. She commented that the entire eurozone accession process should be allowed to unfold before more in-depth commentary is made.

Iliana Iotova added that there had been an attempt in Bulgaria to shift the focus that President Radev had placed with his call for a referendum. She clarified that the presidential institution has never spoken “for” or “against” Europe, but only about the pros and cons that would come with introducing the common European currency in Bulgaria.

“I expect in the coming months from the majority and the government a serious increase in incomes, control of inflation, as well as many investments in the country, economic stability, and an improved standard of living,” Iotova also said. 

In response to a BTA question about the postponed vote on the report regarding the accession of the Republic of North Macedonia to the European Union (EU), Iliana Iotova stated that at this moment, the position of European Parliament (EP) President Roberta Metsola is very important. According to Iotova, Metsola must carefully examine the complaint and the letter from the Bulgarian Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), which allege leaked information, lobbying, and the possibility that a third country had access to discussions within the EP Foreign Affairs Committee before an official decision was made.

“It must be clarified how and at what cost this happened, and whether a change of the main rapporteur on the topic of opening negotiations with North Macedonia and its EU membership progress should be considered—if the claims made by the Bulgarian MEPs are confirmed,” Iotova added, calling the situation a serious scandal for an institution like the EU.

Regarding the recent statement by EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos that options are being explored to ease the EU accession procedure, the Vice President emphasized that this is not a new topic. “It’s not the first time Ms. Marta Kos has tried to circumvent already adopted European policies regarding North Macedonia’s accession,” Iotova commented, reminding that the so-called French proposal and the associated protocols for opening accession chapters are European documents—not bilateral ones. She added that the Treaty of Good Neighbourliness is also part of these European documents and cannot be altered or bypassed in any way.

Iliana Iotova further commented that the expressed desire by some EU member states to adopt decisions by qualified majority instead of unanimity poses a “threat.” In her view, the Bulgarian Prime Minister and the government must urgently undertake diplomatic efforts and engage in dialogue with both Commissioner Kos and the EP leadership to bring the truth to light and prevent any attempts to renegotiate already agreed-upon decisions in the accession process.

“I commend the Bulgarian MEPs who have done a great deal of work in this process. I know they are seeking support for Bulgaria’s position among other parliamentary groups and national delegations. But it seems to me that the actions of our government are insufficient—or at least not firm enough,” the Vice President concluded.