MOVE.BG conference Visions for Europe: Do We Have A Common Vision For Europe?

Visions for Europe-conference - MOVE.BG

The conference "Visions for Europe" was the closing event from MOVE.BG's European programme "You move Europe" at which we sought sustainable expert solutions for the development with EU and the place of Bulgaria within it.

The participants addressed important questions related to the integration process and presented different perspectives and visions for the European Union, outlining the possible directions for Europe’s future and our European membership. The conference presented the Bulgarian perspective of the socio-economic and geopolitical challenges facing Europe, the role of democracy and civil participation, emphasizing the need for a more pro-active position of our country in overcoming those challenges. (Videos in EN follow below each section)

What are the conclusions and most important messages?

Bulgaria has made a rational and strategic choice by joining the European Union and our membership should not be the subject of renegotiation. In order to achieve a more rational perception of Europe, however, there should be a more active public debate on important European topics and their Bulgarian dimensions. On the other hand, the link between leadership, vision and legitimacy needs to be further emphasized, i.e. the leaders and visionaries of the EU need to present their vision in a more comprehensive way to the European citizens in order to achieve better understanding of the importance of the EU and its future. The new European consensus should be sought on the basis of negotiations, not institutionally shaped. The right way towards a genuine European identity is through dialogue. European citizens, however, should be more proactive and well-informed and the institutions need to find a simple formula to deliver their messages in order to achieve effective two-way communication process that gives results. (VIDEO)

The focus of the conference were the economic challenges and deepening economic disparities between Member States, the risks facing the regional and global influence of the EU, the issues of energy policy and the question of a common defense policy. In socio-economic terms Europe is the biggest and richest market in the world, it continues to be the leader in high-tech products and has a diversified economy. The European Union provides a working model, but does not substitute the responsibility of each Member State and that is why there is no guarantee that Bulgaria will become richer as a country although we have the chance for greater advancement. Bulgaria can reach the average European levels of progress and development when our institutions “catch up” with the European ones and once the level of “production” of innovations reaches the European levels. (VIDEO)

In geopolitical terms, the key issue remains the question of a common European foreign policy and how it can be achieved in the context of new regional and global challenges. (VIDEO)

The participants in the conference discussed also the role of civil society in the democratic process as well as the role of media in the dialogue between citizens and the European institutions. (VIDEO)

The annual report of the project “The Catch-up index” was presented at the conference where it became clear that for the third year in a row Bulgaria 's penultimate in "catching up" with the level of development of the Western states. The index makes it possible to see the progress (or regression) of one side to a total of 35 European countries in four basic categories: Economy, Quality of Life, Democracy and Governance.

The conference was organized in partnership with the "Open Society" Institute , The Information Office of the European Parliament in Bulgaria and www.euinside.eu .

What next?

The European topic should more widely discussed after the European elections because Europe is part of our daily lives. In MOVE.BG we believe that the European path is the only way for Bulgaria, therefore we will continue to work on the topic of Europe and we hope you will continue to be active participants in our future initiatives.