1. STARTING NEGOTIATIONS – THE EXPERIENCE OF BULGARIA 7 November 2005 ZAGREB Vladimir Kissiov

2. 2 The Accession Process National Economic Development Plans Agenda 2000 Accession Partnership Road Maps National Programme for Adoption of the Acquis

3. 3  Acquis divided into 31 chapters;  The creation of the coordination mechanism and Working groups in the line ministries following the Chapters of Acquis;  Multilateral Screening (Helsinki group countries) - one year before opening;  Bilateral Screening; Negotiations the case of Bulgaria

4. 4  10 December 1999  10 December 1999 European Council in Helsinki  15 February 2000  15 February 2000 Bulgaria started the accession negotiations  15 June 2004  15 June 2004 The negotiations provisionally closed  25 April 2005  25 April 2005 Signing of the Treaty of Accession Negotiations the case of Bulgaria

5. 5 Not giving any reason for doubt on the EU side about the efficiency and ability to complete the project Using the experience of the other countries Seeking for solutions rather than passively waiting for a proposal from the Commission Negotiations the case of Bulgaria

6. 6 Minister on European affairs Co-ordination structures 31 Working groups Mission of the Republic of Bulgaria to the EC European Integration Directorate within MFA Council of Ministers European Integration Council Core team Coordination council European integration Directorate within the CM Minister of Foreign affairs

7. 7 Principles of the negotiations The Accession Process is comprehensive and inclusive: all states are participating on an equal footing and all are destined to join the European Union on the basis of the same criteria and depending on their individual progress ! !

8. 8 Accession implies your full acceptance of “acquis communautaire” Effective implementation of the “acquis”, which requires in particular the establishment of an efficient, reliable public administration Resulting rights and obligations Principles of the negotiations

9. 9 The acceptance of the rights and obligations may give rise to exceptional and non-permanent transitional measures, The requests for any transitional measures shall be limited in time and scope, Shall be accompanied by a plan with clearly defined stages for application of the “acquis”. Principles of the negotiations

10. 10 Account must be taken of the interests of the Union, the Candidate Country and the other Candidate States Principles of the negotiations The transitional periods must not involve amendments to the rules or policies of the Union, disrupt their proper functioning, or lead to significant distortions of competition.

11. 11 Bilateral Intergovernmental Conference At least one meeting per six month period at ministerial and deputy level Meetings are held in Brussels, but during April, June and October ministerial meetings are held in Luxembourg Principles of the negotiations 1 2 3

12. 12 Problems with the 5 th Enlargement Intellectual property rights; Judiciary, corruption, police cooperation Chapter 1: Chapter 5: Chapter 24: Food safety Public procurement Laws and enforcement;

13. 13 Areas of serious concerns: 16 Problems the case of Bulgaria Areas that need increased efforts: around 30% Around 50% of the areas The first monitoring report (140 areas across 29 chapters):

14. 14 Areas of serious concerns The protection of intellectual and industrial property rights; Motor vehicle insurance;

15. 15 Areas of serious concerns animal by-products (in particular the construction of a second rendering plant and the introduction of a feed ban), the veterinary control system animal diseases control, the trade in live animals and animal products, veterinary public health and animal welfare in the chapter on agriculture; institutional structures and financial management and control in the area of regional policy, Agriculture the paying agency and the integrated administration and control system the common market organization on milk, transmissible spongiforme encephalopathies (TSEs)

16. 16 Areas of serious concerns Justice and home affairs the Schengen acquis and for the management of the future EU external border; the fight against organised crime and fraud and corruption; police cooperation;

17. 17 Implementation of the legislation

18. 18 Membership in the EU A GAME OF GOLF

19. 19 Communication Strategy InformationInformation CommunicationCommunication DiscussionDiscussion

20. 20 Some imagine the membership in the European Union as:

21. 21.... or like this

22. 22... or maybe like this

23. 23... but it is like this

24. 24 The Challenge of Enlargement 10 new Member States 1 May 2004 Bulgaria Romania Bulgaria Romania Turkey Croatia Turkey Croatia Western Balkans 1 Jan 2007? …

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