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Rosen Plevneliev: Europe is Entering a New Phase – Pre and Post Crimea

Historically Europe is entering a new phase – pre and post Crimea and the consequences from Russia’s violation of the international legal norms will be tangible in a long-term perspective. This is what President Rosen Plevneliev said at a news conference given for German media in Berlin titled “Southeast Europe and Bulgaria in the context of the crisis in Crimea.”

On the day of Europe the Head of State voiced his conviction that the Ukrainians can alone choose their path toward a European and democratic development. “I cannot imagine that this path will be banned for them simply because of their geographic location. This seems to mean that if you are Russia’s neighbor or you are in the sphere of its interests, you cannot become an EU member state although your people are willing to. I cannot understand this mode of thinking. The policy of “Great Powers” and a “periphery” between them is very dangerous for Europe and the past of the Balkans proves that this is so,” the Head of State said in Berlin.

Rosen Plevneliev commented that instead of applying the methods of modern diplomacy, based on values and rules, military force was used in Crimea. It was occupied, an illegitimate referendum was conducted and the territory was forcefully annexed. “Russia’s actions today clash with the post World War Two order in Europe, based on the principle of observing the rules, of predictability of the actions and on the efforts pooled to ensure trust, and also based on never allowing borders to be redrawn unilaterally,” the President said and called on for taking decisive actions to restore the principles of the law-governed state and international law.

The Bulgarian President strongly condemned the policy of splitting Europe into center and periphery, which the Russian actions in Crimea contributed to. “We need an EU in which there is no center and periphery and in which every country is important. We need an EU in which every country can prove to be important on the global political scene. We need a new wave of integration not only in Southeast Europe, but also in Europe as a whole. We need an EU that can provide help to ensure that free and democratic elections are conducted in Ukraine,” Plevneliev was adamant.

The Head of State warned that if the situation in Ukraine aggravates, it is highly likely for the Balkans to become the next destabilized region. “The surest way to destabilize Europe is to have weak and disunited Balkans,” Rosen Plevneliev said. In the President’s view, a real danger exists of “destabilizing Europe from inside by using nationalists, oligarchs, corruption, propaganda and energy dependence”.

Rosen Plevneliev further warned that a “strong anti-European group” may be represented in the new European Parliament and therefore the Head of State called on for counteracting nationalism with patriotism and counteracting isolation and destabilization with European integration. “In order to counteract the energy weapon an energy union should be established, and free media which tell the truth can be used to counteract the dependent media which act as propaganda machines,” the President added.   

“It is important to make sure that Europe does not go back to the 19th century, while we are playing the “Great Powers” vs “periphery” game, to position it in the 21st century by launching a new phase of integration so as to ensure a stronger and more open EU on the global scene. Moreover we should strengthen the three EU engines – democracy, integration and market economy,” President Rosen Plevneliev further said.

In reply to a journalist’s question regarding the EU’s imposition of new sanctions against Russia, the President said that Europe must make a unified decision on this issue, based on principles and values, and Bulgaria should support this decision.

The German media’s interest was basically directed at the situation in Ukraine and the region of Southeast Europe.

During the second day of his working visit to Germany the Head of State held a meeting with MPs from the foreign policy commission of the Bundestag, which once again focused on the topics of the situation in Ukraine, the process of EU enlargement to the Western Balkans and the upcoming elections for European Parliament.

Today the President will also hold talks with Frank-Walter Steinmeier, federal foreign minister. Later in Stuttgart Rosen Plevneliev will hold a meeting with Winfried Kretschmann, prime minister of Baden-Wurttemberg and will deliver a lecture on the topic “Why do we benefit from Europe – the vision of a new member state.”