STARTING NEGOTIATIONS –

THE EXPERIENCE OF

BULGARIA

7 November 2005

ZAGREB

Vladimir Kissiov

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The Accession Process

National Economic Development Plans

Agenda 2000

Accession Partnership

Road Maps

National Programme for Adoption of the Acquis

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Acquis divided into 31 chapters;

The creation of the coordination mechanism and Working groups in the line ministries following the Chapters of Acquis;

Multilateral Screening (Helsinki group countries) - one year before opening;

Bilateral Screening;

Negotiationsthe case of Bulgaria

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10 December 199910 December 1999 European Council in Helsinki

15 February 200015 February 2000 Bulgaria started the accession negotiations

15 June 200415 June 2004 The negotiations provisionally closed

225 April 20055 April 2005 Signing of the Treaty of Accession

Negotiationsthe case of Bulgaria

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Not giving any reason for doubt on the EU side about the efficiency and ability to complete the project

Using the experience of the other countries

Seeking for solutions rather than passively waiting for a proposal from the Commission

Negotiationsthe case of Bulgaria

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Minister on European

affairs

Co-ordination structures

31 Working groups31 Working groups

Mission of the Republic of Bulgaria to the EC

Mission of the Republic of Bulgaria to the EC

European Integration Directorate within MFA

European Integration Directorate within MFA

Council of MinistersCouncil of Ministers

European Integration Council

European Integration Council

Core teamCore team

Coordination council

Coordination council

European integration Directorate within the

CM

European integration Directorate within the

CM

Minister of Foreign

affairs

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Principles of the negotiations

The Accession Process is comprehensive and

inclusive: all states are participating on an equal

footing and all are destined to join the European Union on the basis of the same

criteria and depending on their individual progress

!!

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Accession implies your full acceptance of “acquis communautaire”

Effective implementation of the “acquis”, which requires in particular the establishment of an efficient, reliable public administration

Resulting rights and obligations

Principles of the negotiations

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The acceptance of the rights and obligations may give rise to exceptional and non-permanent transitional measures,

The requests for any transitional measures shall be limited in time and scope,

Shall be accompanied by a plan with clearly defined stages for application of the “acquis”.

Principles of the negotiations

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Account must be taken of the interests of the Union, the Candidate Country and the other Candidate States

Principles of the negotiations

The transitional periods must not involve amendments to the rules or policies of the Union, disrupt their proper functioning, or lead to significant distortions of competition.

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Bilateral Intergovernmental Conference

At least one meeting per six month period at ministerial and deputy level

Meetings are held in Brussels, but during April, June and October ministerial meetings are held in Luxembourg

Principles of the negotiations

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2

3

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Problems with the 5th Enlargement

Intellectual property rights;

Judiciary, corruption, police cooperation

Chapter 1:

Chapter 5:

Chapter 24:

Food safety

Public procurement Laws and enforcement;

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Areas of serious concerns: 16

Areas of serious concerns: 16

Problemsthe case of Bulgaria

Areas that need increased efforts: around 30%

Areas that need increased efforts: around 30%

Around 50% of the areas

Around 50% of the areas

The first monitoring report (140 areas across 29 chapters):

The first monitoring report (140 areas across 29 chapters):

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Areas of serious concerns

The protection of intellectual and industrial property rights;

Motor vehicle insurance;

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Areas of serious concerns

• animal by-products (in particular the construction of a second rendering plant and the introduction of a feed ban),

• the veterinary control system • animal diseases control, • the trade in live animals and animal products, • veterinary public health and • animal welfare in the chapter on agriculture;• institutional structures and financial management and control

in the area of regional policy,

Agriculture• the paying agency and the integrated

administration and control system • the common market organization on

milk, • transmissible spongiforme

encephalopathies (TSEs)

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Areas of serious concerns

Justice and home affairs

• the Schengen acquis and for the management of the future EU external border;

• the fight against organised crime and fraud and corruption;

• police cooperation;

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Implementation of the legislation

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Membership in the EU

A GAME OF GOLFA GAME OF GOLF

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Communication Strategy

InformationInformationInformationInformation

CommunicationCommunicationCommunicationCommunication

DiscussionDiscussionDiscussionDiscussion

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Some imagine the membership in the European Union as:

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.... or like this

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... or maybe like this

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... but it is like this

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The Challenge of Enlargement

10 new Member States

1 May 2004 1 May 2004

Bulgaria

Romania

Bulgaria

Romania

Turkey

Croatia

Turkey

Croatia

Western Balkans

1 Jan 2007? 1 Jan 2007?

…

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