In the last couple of years the European Union has faced numerous challenges
The crisis of the relations between the EU and Russia, the situation in Ukraine, the economic problems of Greece, social tension, terrorist attacks, a migrant crisis that is triggering nationalist and populist feelings in European capitals, the real threat of the UK leaving the European project behind. Despite all this however we believe that the fundaments and the democratic institutions on which the Union is based are sustainable and that the challenges would lead to a consolidation of the decisions necessary to overcome them. In this way the European Union managed to tackle the global financial crisis that turned into a fiscal one. In this manner with common decisions and actions the Union will overcome the rest of them too.
The European topic has a crucial role in its mission and the work of MOVE.BG as a platform that gives way to meetings between experts and progressive citizens that together seek for adequate balanced and long-term decisions for the country and the society on the basis of a reached consensus and common action for the development of Bulgaria and Europe.
After the accession of Bulgaria to the European Union there were expectations
For new market opportunities, foreign investments, financial support, common economic welfare and reaching a higher standard of living, along with a higher prestige for our country worldwide and the consolidation of democracy. Despite the fact that this is not happening with the pace and scale that we would like there is a nominal improvement and we have received new opportunities for development. Even though at the moment we are not taking full advantage of our membership, Bulgaria is in a union with the countries that take one of the highest positions in the index of human development.
Nine years after Bulgaria became a part of the group of the most successful and innovative countries in the world
Bulgarians still do not have the feeling that they are Europeans and that they have a say in the making of European policies. Lead by the persuasion that as Bulgarians and as European citizens the EU is our common responsibility we believe that we have to be active participants in the formulation of messages for the future of Europe. That is why our efforts within our programme were directed towards the raising of awareness and civil activity on important European questions, as well as the involvement of Bulgarian experts in the creation of a vision for the development of the European Union. For more than two years now MOVE.BG has been working towards support for our common European awareness.
In line with this, we have organized a series of discussions, debates and the conference “Visions for Europe”, during which we discussed what Europe gives and takes from us, how Europe is affecting the democratic process, and what the arguments for and against more European integration are. We examined the youth perspective on the opportunities and initiatives that Europe and Bulgaria offer to the young and often travelling European citizens. We conducted an online campaign “You Move Europe” that aimed to motivate and provoke Bulgarian citizens to illustrate the contribution of Bulgaria and Bulgarians to Europe.
In the MOVE.BG publication on the European theme:
“Visions for Europe: the Bulgarian Perspective of the European Priorities”, Bulgarian experts from public and political life outlined the future of the European Union and their vision about some of the aspects and policies in the making of which the public could play an active role. During the presentation of this publication there were concrete ideas formulated that would help find a new interpretation of the European way for development.
We at MOVE.BG are led by the belief that Bulgaria has made a strategic and rational choice with its EU membership.
There is no alternative to this choice because the only way that allows development and improvement for our country is the European way. The membership of Bulgaria in the EU has considerably helped for the modernization of our country and for the cultivation of our civil consciousness. We believe that despite the serious social, economic and geopolitical challenges that the EU faces the place of Bulgaria is indeed in the European Union and we support a deeper integration for Bulgaria within the structure of the Union. For us the increase of both Bulgarian and other European citizens’ trust in institutions, their participation in the formulation of decisions and recommendations are directly related to the state of democracy.
As a part of our systemic efforts to consolidate the European agenda in Bulgarian society we decided to commemorate Europe Day with an unconventional event within the May edition of Evenings for Dreamers and we invited people who have linked their personal and professional life to the realization and development of the European idea in our country and who through their everyday actions continue to contribute to the rationalization of our common European mission. The ambassador of the Republic of France to Bulgaria His Excellency Xavier Lapeyre de Cabanes, the founder of the European Studies Department at Sofia University and one of the leading experts on European law in Bulgaria Julia Zaharieva and the head of the representation of the European Commission in Bulgaria Mr. Ognian Zlatev will share the various obstacles that they encountered on their path to professional development.
