EC Vice President Verheugen: I have Three Great News about Bulgaria
September 18th, 2008
The citizens of Bulgaria must realize that they should not allow the image of their country to be discredited by a handful of individuals, who are the foundation of organized crime in Bulgaria, according to the Vice President of the European Commission Günter Verheugen.
Verheugen, who is also the Commissioner for Enterprise and Industry, spoke during his visit to the Region of Veliko Turnovo. He appealed to the entire society in Bulgaria to take a stand against corruption.
The European Commissar further stated that during the last 24 hours he had discovered at least three great news about Bulgaria:
“Bulgaria would succeed to comply with the European Commission’s (EC) requirements from the last reports very quickly. At the end of the year Brussels will prepare another report about the economic growth and progress of the countries members of the European Union (EU). It will include assessments about Bulgaria that quite a few other countries would like to hear as well. For example, you a have a budget surplus, while many others are fighting to, at least, be at the 0 level; the state distributes only 40% of all revenues - yet another success and the unemployment rate is falling steadily. Your country has excellent relations with all others from the Black Sea area and can contribute to the stability in the region,” Verheugen stated in Veliko Turnovo.
The Commissar further added that in 1999, he had proposed that the EU initiates negotiations for Bulgaria’s accession and had never regretted his proposal.
The Mayor of Veliko Turnovo, Doctor Rumen Rachev presented Günter Verheugen with a gold badge with the city’s coat of arms and the symbolic key to Bulgaria’s old capital, owned only by the father of the “Perestroyka” Mikhail Gorbatchev and the famous Bulgarian sumo wrestler Kaloyan Mahlyanov.
