Prof. Gechev, we live in an uncertain and rapidly changing world. The challenges facing the European Union are great. As a candidate for MEP, which main priorities would you put forward and how do you see their implementation?
Ending the war on the territory of Ukraine is the absolute number one priority. The EU is in a geopolitical trap from which it must get out as quickly as possible. The economy is in a state of crisis, the motor of European business - Germany, is suffocating in a deepening recession. We effectively gifted Russia's cheap energy east and strategic raw materials to China and India. And instead we import far more expensive substitutes from the US or repurchase Russian resources from other countries at higher prices. Thus, the two main competitors of the EU: the USA and China received a priceless gift from us, and we are crawling along the economic bottom.
To this we must add a drain of our valuable significant budgetary resources for military aid, for supporting immigrants, for social compensations for tens of thousands of Europeans losing their jobs, etc. In fact, at the end of 2014, EU leaders had found a solution to the problem in the Minsk agreements. The presidents of France (Hollande), Ukraine (Poroshenko), Russia (Putin and the Chancellor of Germany (Germany). This international treaty clearly spelled out the responsibilities of the signatories and implied an immediate end to the military conflict. But the next Ukrainian president, Zelensky, refused to implement the treaty. Moreover, in 202222 he issued a presidential decree prohibiting any negotiations with Russia.
Subsequently, the EU was effectively pushed out of the process management mechanism, continuing to be one of the main “payers” to cover the consequences. I will give you examples. The EU voted 50 billion euros in aid to Ukraine, and 14 billion euros in research for 2024. The total Community subsidies for agriculture in the 27 member states are practically equal to the aid to Ukraine. The continuation of this policy will be detrimental to us if a quick and effective solution is not found. That is why the number one task of the new European Parliament must be peace, peace and more peace on our continent. The EU can and should return its key position on the world political and economic map.
The second priority, in my opinion, is technological renewal and applied scientific research. Today, the EU is not a leader in any significant direction of world science and practice. We lag behind the US, China, South Korea and Japan in electronics, space exploration, artificial intelligence, industrial robots, pharmaceuticals, genetics, etc. The European Commission's science budget is too small to make a breakthrough in any of the above areas.
Our competitors are mobilizing tens of billions of dollars in separate programs that have, for example, reached the far side of the moon and saturated their industries with industrial robots. The EU's trade deficit with China alone last year reached almost 300 billion euros! Therefore, in the coming years, the budget for research and development should be significantly increased.
The mechanism of distribution of funds should also be changed. Now it is in all countries less and in constantly changing areas, due to the short-term nature of the projects financed. In order to be competitive, it is necessary to concentrate the funds in several key areas, and for the implementation, the best of the scientific potential of the member countries is mobilized. If this is not done, we will continue to fall behind.
I would point out as a third priority the categorical preservation of making strategic decisions for the EU only with full consensus of the member states. Bulgaria must be a worthy and equal member of our common European home! It is known that the four big countries (Germany, France, Italy and Spain) are feeling the ground that decisions should be made by a majority formed by the countries with a population over 50% of that of the EU. This would be a gross violation of the principles of democracy and the very basis of the EU Treaty. The realization of their idea of “ Europe at two speeds“ will leave us forever on the periphery of the Union. Such a colonizing attempt must be resolutely and irrevocably resisted.
Bulgaria will be represented in the EP by 17 deputies out of a total of 720. How can you be useful in his work under these difficult conditions and many challenges?
EP plays a key role in the formation and implementation of European Commission policies. All programs are directly or indirectly aligned with the principles of sustainable development. In 1996-97, I was the Chairman of the Commission for Sustainable Development of the United Nations and our team developed a system of principles and indicators for sustainable development of the member countries, incl. EU, which were approved in September 1997 by the UN General Assembly. My experience as Minister of Economy, Member of Parliament and Deputy. a chairman of the budget and economic policy committees would also be helpful. I have been a visiting professor of macroeconomics and international finance at a number of universities in the EU and the USA, I have participated in several research projects of the EU and the World Bank.
I have been invited as an expert of the "Science" Directorate. of the European Commission when evaluating research projects in economics applying for funding. In recent years, I represented the BSP in the PES group of economic experts, where we developed alternative budgets and policies on behalf of the socialists in the European Parliament. I know the European institutions and economy well, I have concrete ideas for solving some of the ripe problems and challenges. With authority, arguments and experience, MPs from other member countries can and should be involved in legislative activities of common interest. Achieving a balance of the interests of so many parties is difficult, but absolutely necessary to achieve the desired results.