US embassy cable - 05SOFIA859

UNCLAS SOFIA 000859 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, ECON, SOCI, BU, EUN 
SUBJECT: BULGARIAN PARLIAMENT RATIFIES EU ACCESSION TREATY, RULING 
PARTY EYES ELECTORAL BOOST 
 
Ref: (A) SOFIA 780 (B) SOFIA 623 
 
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Bulgaria's parliament ratified May 11 the EU 
accession treaty, as another step on the way to join the European 
Union on January 1, 2007.  The document, signed in Luxembourg on 
April 25, passed with 231 votes in favor, one against and two 
abstentions.  To come into force, the treaty must be ratified by 
all current EU member states before 2007.  Bulgaria's self-imposed 
speedy ratification is motivated predominantly by domestic 
political pressure.  PM Simeon Saxe-Coburg Gotha's ruling party 
hopes to use Bulgaria's impending EU membership to boost its 
chances for the June general elections.  END SUMMARY 
 
2. (SBU) Bulgaria, as well as neighboring Romania, completed EU 
entry talks in 2004 and signed the accession treaty on April 25, 
2005 in Luxembourg (Ref. A).  Bulgarian officials claim the speedy 
ratification is intended to help kick-off the ratification process 
by member states, especially given the uncertainty surrounding the 
May 29 EU Constitution Referendum in France.  However, Bulgaria's 
self-imposed rush is motivated mostly by the domestic political 
calendar.  The PM's ruling party hopes the ratification will give 
the party a boost in the June 25 elections.  The ex-king movement 
faces a strong challenge by the main opposition Socialists who, 
according to recent polls retain nearly a 10 percent lead (Ref. B). 
 
3. (U) In a speech to parliament, PM Saxe-Coburg said the historic 
decision should motivate Bulgaria to work harder to achieve its 
target EU entry date.  Parliament speaker Borislav Velikov termed 
the ratification a milestone in Bulgaria's post-communist history 
while Nikolay Mladenov from the center-right opposition UDF said it 
should put an end to Bulgarians' fears that the EU is a prestigious 
club closed to the small Balkan nation.  Socialist leader Sergei 
Stanishev hailed the ratification, but pointed to the lack of 
transparency surrounding the obligations that the government has 
undertaken as part of the treaty.  Former Prime Minister Ivan 
Kostov, whose center-right government launched the EU entry talks 
in 1999, noted the country needed to do more to reform its judicial 
system and strengthen the rule of law.  These areas are seen by the 
EU as the greatest threat to successful accession. 
 
4. (SBU) The ruling party's efforts to gain public support by 
boasting about its EU accession achievements suffered a setback 
last week.  On May 5, the two biggest groups in the European 
Parliament - the conservative European People's Party and the Party 
of the European Socialists - proposed delaying observer status for 
the new parliamentarians from Bulgaria and Romania until 1 January 
2006, or 1 January 2007 in the event of the activation of the 
safeguard clause.  In comparison, the 10 new members that joined as 
part of the 2004 wave of accession were invited to send 
representatives to the EU parliament as soon as they signed the 
treaty.  Bulgaria will be entitled to send 18 representatives. 
Government officials put a brave face to the news, which made front- 
page headlines in Bulgaria.  PM Saxe-Coburg said it would not 
affect Bulgaria's EU accession, EU Minister Meglena Kuneva termed 
it "a tempest in a teapot" and Foreign Minister Passy noted that 
Bulgaria has already been granted an observer status in the 
European Commission and the European Council.  However, the 
European Parliament's decision could scale down the ruling party's 
plans to use the EU as a key theme in the one-month election 
campaign that starts May 25. 
 
5. (SBU) COMMENT:  Whether or not its efforts on behalf of EU 
accession gain the PM's party additional vote remains to be seen. 
However, it is clear that Bulgarians of all political stripes are 
committed to moving forward on the EU accession, even if they don't 
fully understand the responsibilities and benefits membership 
grants.  END COMMENT