Country: Bulgaria Country: Bulgaria Committee: European Committee: European Council Ambassador: Alexandra Ambassador: Alexandra Voinea
A Brief Introduction
A. Bulgaria Bulgaria’s ’s contribution to the United the United Nations and the European Council
Bulgaria has always been devoted strengthening the efficiency of its actions and interested in coping with modern-day threats in conformity with the United Nations Charter. A member of the United Nations since 1955, Bulgaria has served as a non-permanent member of the Security Council three times and placed itself among the founding members of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe in 1975. Finally, on 1 January 2007 it became a member of the European Union, as it fulfilled its political criteria and became recognized as a functioning market economy. Moreover, Bulgaria would bring its experience in peace support operations to the table, as it has a history of sending military forces, military units, engineers, medical officers as well as military observers (UN and OSCE missions). B. Bulgaria Bulgaria’s ’s Foreign Policy (Principl es and Values)
Bulgaria has a very active and consistent polity for peace, human rights, democracy and progress, regionally, at the level of the European Union, as well as globally. It is a reliable ally of the EU and NATO, as well as a responsible member of the UN and other international organizations. [1]
Bulgaria’s Bulgaria ’s Background & Experience in the Topics’ Context TOPIC 1: EU’s Migration Policy in the Mediterranean
First of all, we are well accustomed to the migration dilemma, since Bulgaria through Turkey is a preferred route for immigrants. As reported by Frontex, the number of illegal immigrants increased by 48% in 2013. Most of these immigrants arrive either via the Western Mediterranean channel, the Greek-Albanian border or the Bulgarian-Turkish border. [2] We acknowledge the main problem being that applications are generally subjected to lengthy appeals and frequent delays. With help from other European Union states, the asylum systems in border countries can be improved, hence the quality of the application for asylum process increased. [3]
TOPIC 2: EU relations with Eastern Europe and Russia
Historically, Bulgaria has had long standing issues with Russia, the relationship between the two countries being more contradictory than it seems. The clear tendency in the European Union towards energy separatism prevents the EU from acting as a whole body, therefore allowing the Russian Federation to exert any kind of influence it desires. [4] Bulgaria’s official position TOPIC 1: EU’s Migration Policy in the Mediterranean [What can Bulgaria bring to the table? Official Position & Solutions]
Bulgaria is deeply interested in building the EU Common Space of Justice, Freedom and Security in order to help individuals move freely across Europe and diminish the fatalities among refugees, hence the creation of a Common Asylum Program (instead of the application of the Dublin Convention of 1990). [5] Our main goal is to sustain as well as increase th e security of our own citizens, while maintaining the balance with free movement rights and helping integrate refugees and victims of the Arab Spring. Moreover, Bulgaria emphasizes on the acceleration of the co-operation of the Member States in these fragile diplomatic situations. We draw attention to the fact that most of this is due to the Arab Spring, and that most of the immigrants are Syrian, and should be treated as refugees. Conditions in the detention centers are not meeting the standards set by the European Commission, and the usual solutions are found amo ngst: pushbacks, intimidation, extradition and banning refugees from even applying for asylum. [6] Bulgaria has already increased its collaboration with the Greek and Turkish border guards, but a through system involving all the countries of the European Union is crucial for resolving the migration issue. [7] Nevertheless, we do note with deep regret the human rights abuses in some of the European Union border countries, consequences of the 1990 Dublin Convention stating that the country the migrant first arrived in is the only on responsible to process his application for asylum. Should this heavy responsibility be split, such actions will not be needed. Among potential solutions which might decisively tackle crucial aspects related to this topic, Bulgaria would like to highlight some of its own initiatives:
Keeping borders open, so that refugees have access to asylum-offering countries. History has shown that as strict regulations are enforced, illegal immigration increased. Alleviating the pressure on war and famine destroyed states and allowing refugees to camps would help avoid tragedies, lower the rate of illegal immigrants as well as keep track of the migration process. Establishing proper refugee settlements and allowing all refugees to apply for asylum, instead of placing them in extended detention. Prosper countries of Europe are to be encouraged to offer their help to integrate immigrants. This way, they are not a burden for the social system, and they help the economy (a large number of workers in fields such as construction may come from countries with a lower GDP) [8] Preventing exploitation by smugglers by making all refugee settlements safe, and very well governed. Refugees are to be treated in full respect towards the humanitarian law and protected. Asylum should be awarded faster to refugees in order to help differentiate between them and illegal immigrants. [9]
TOPIC 2: EU relations with Eastern Europe and Russia [What can Bulgaria bring to the table? Official Position & Solutions]
President Plevneliev wants to limit the Russian oligarch influence in Bulgaria, push towards a firm stand against Russia’s abuses, as well as orient the country’s foreign policy towards the West. Even so, an alarming percentage of our gas comes from Russia. Given the above mentioned desire to take a stand, we are willing to help change the current situation among European Union countries (energy separatism) and find a way to act as a whole body. Among potential solutions, we highlight the following solutions, some of which have already been enforced:
Bulgaria has withdrawn from two of the three strategic energy projects in collaboration with Moscow (the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline and the Belene project). This represents a process of limiting the energy relationship with Russia, making room for new priorities. We have also started raising the country’s low energy efficiency, thus reducing our dependence of Russian gas. [10]
Bulgaria has also begun shifting away from Russia, investing in the Nabucco pipeline (a European Project), diversifying our supplies, while not confusing energy matters with politics and maintaining our good relations with Russia. The country is also pushing towards a common European energy strategy. [11] Given the percentages, Russia is more dependent on the European Union (economically speaking) than the European Union on Russia. France has been investing in nuclear energy, and so is the United Kingdom. There have been serious advancements made in alternative energy sources, as they may account for a large sector of the common energy strategy. The main solution to Russia’s recent actions would be diminishing Europe’s consumption of Russian energy supplies. As a founding member of the OSCE, Bulgaria emphasizes on the importance of a joint energetic system plan between EU’s countries. Only standing united will we manage to prevent situations like the annexation of Crimea from happening again.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
[1]http://www.mfa.bg/en/pages/18/index.html [2]http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/bulgarian-asylum-system-pushes-migrants-west [3]http://www.hrw.org/news/2014/04/29/bulgaria-asylum-seekers-summarily-expelled [4]http://www.diplomaatia.ee/en/article/bulgaria-russia/ [5]http://www.unhcr.org/pages/4dd12ad46.html [6]http://www.grreporter.info/en/bulgarian_and_greek_border_turkey_most_attractive_illegal_i mmigrants/10729 [7]http://frontex.europa.eu/trends-and-routes/eastern-mediterranean-route [8]http://www.opendemocracy.net/can-europe-make-it/jeff-crisp/missing-boat-europes-asylumand-immigration-crisis [9]http://migrantsatsea.org/2014/03/25/mediterranean-flows-into-europe-migration-and-the-eusforeign-policy-analysis-by-european-parliament-dg-for-external-policies/ [10]http://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/analyses/2012-04-04/new-opening-energy-relations between-bulgaria-and-russia [11]http://eurodialogue.eu/energy-security/Bulgaria-US-Russia-Relations-Revisited-ViaPipeline-Politics
