President Rosen Plevneliev expects that initial versions of the National Strategy for Bulgarians Abroad to be ready in September and the first draft in November.
It will be discussed at a forum in the European Parliament in Brussels with representatives of Bulgarian communities abroad. President Plevneliev opened the first session of the Council on Culture, Spiritual Development and National Identity, which was devoted to problems of meaningful dialogue and co-operation with Bulgarians abroad.
Institutions in the country should work towards developing a consolidated, quality and efficient long-term strategy for Bulgarians Abroad, the President said. In his words, the document will unite and focus the efforts of all responsible institutions and will present a unified and comprehensive vision, with clearly defined objectives and consensual decisions. “We need to improve co-ordination and the communication network with Bulgarians abroad. It is important to formulate a clear and unified message to them and show consensus on important issues and problems,” President Plevneliev said.
Bulgarian communities abroad have great potential and desire to participate in the formulation and implementation of national policies and this potential should be used, Vice President Margarita Popova said after the meeting. Before we develop a national strategy to work with our compatriots abroad, there is no need to write a new law, the Vice President said in response to a journalist's question.
Participants in the meeting of the Council emphasised the need for an adequate strategy and policy on co-operation with Bulgarian communities abroad. Among the main issues to be addressed in the future strategy are the protection of the legal rights of our compatriots abroad, the transparency of national policies towards Bulgarians abroad, the need for greater awareness, including through research and analysis of their problems and needs, and co-ordination of efforts of the government in fulfilling the objectives of the strategy.
Among the objectives that the new national strategy are expected to meet are, among others, the development of uniform legislation to regulate relations with Bulgarians abroad, the preservation of Bulgarian cultural space abroad, protection of the language of the Bulgarian educational institutions and expansion of their network; building a lobby through Bulgarian immigrant communities, including young Bulgarian immigrants in the country's cultural life, and improving the image of Bulgaria abroad.
During the meeting, the Council emphasised the essential role of the Bulgarian cultural institutes and schools abroad. Participants in the meeting agreed that functions of the Bulgarian diplomatic missions in their work with Bulgarians abroad should be enhanced. Bulgarians abroad should participate in discussions on the “Bulgaria 2020” development program which will be on the agenda of the Bulgarian community forum in Brussels in November, it was also suggested at the meeting.
Participants in the Council on Culture, Spiritual Development and National Identity meeting included Vice President Margarita Popova, secretary to the President Prof. Kiril Topalov, ministers Vezhdi Rashidov and Totyu Mladenov, MPs, the State Agency for Bulgarians Abroad, representatives of the Bulgarian communities abroad the NGO sector and the leading national media.