GERGANA GRUNCHAROVA: NATIONAL PARLIAMENTS SHOULD WORK VERY ACTIVELY ON THE PROLIFERATION OF THE LISBON’S AGREEMENT CONTENT

Ms. Gergana Gruncharova, Minister on European affairs, comments for Gateway EUROPE, that the Lisbon Treaty allows the EU to function effectively with the new 12 member states.  

Minister Grancharova takes part in the conference "Lisbon Treaty - European perspectives".

Ms. Gruncharova, soon, the Lisbon Treaty t will be put forward to the Parliament for ratification. What is the most important, that Bulgarian citizens should know about it?

Ms. Gergana Gruncharova: It is difficult to summarize in a couple of sentences. Lisbon’s Agreement is the necessary critical mass, that will allow the EU to function with countries like Bulgaria, Romania, Czech Republic...- the 12 newly accessed countries after 2004  as well. If there is any result in this EU efforst, it is that obviously it becomes more effective, at least because of the fact that a serious number of issues pass from a procedure of unanimity to a qualified majority. This means that possibility for big countries, and not only them, to impose veto on separate decisions, will be limited to a great extend. Obviously, the EU becomes more democratic – for example, European citizens get the possibility to refer the EC with a proposal for legislative initiative.  EU becomes more transparent as well – national parliaments, which gain new functions, should work very actively on the proliferation of the content of this Contract.  It has one type of messages when we speak about foreign policy, another one – for EU architecture, and a third type concerns power issues and drive against climatic changes. This is why, it is important that members of Parliament should explain its messages to their electorate.