by Marian Draganov
SOFIA, March 17 (Xinhua) -- To do much more together is the best development scenario for the European Union (EU), Bulgaria's Vice President Iliyana Yotova said while commenting on the White Paper on the Future of Europe.
The document, which was prepared by the European Commission on March 1, consists of five scenarios, including Carrying On, Nothing but the Single Market, Those Who Want More Do More, Doing Less More Efficiently, and Doing Much More Together.
Yotova, who was a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from 2007 to 2016, said in a written interview with Xinhua that closest to her as until recently MEP and current Vice President of Bulgaria, is the fifth scenario, "which directly says that we all can do more than we do now."
"I am aware that this option at times sounds like utopia and it does not seem realistic enough on the background of all the crises in the EU, on the background of the trends of separation and formation of various groups of interest within the frameworks of the European countries," Yotova said.
However, it would be possible if the phased order, which is available in fourth scenario, is applied, she said.
Initially, the Member States must achieve a strong consensus on the first few priorities, on which implementation to focus all the energy and efforts, legislative and financial resources, she said.
"The discussion will show whether this will be in the security sector, which is an indisputable priority for all Member States, whether in dealing with migration, and at the same time in social policy and economic growth, but consensus could be reached," she said.
"After that, the EU may go to the fifth scenario, which is actually a scenario of a thriving Europe, as it was seen by the founders 60 years ago," Yotova said.
"Undoubtedly, the worst scenario that I cannot accept in any way, is the so-called second variant, in which the whole beautiful idea of an alliance in postwar Europe is destroyed with a single sentence, turning it into an idea only about one big market," Yotova said.
"Where the values went, where the solidarity went, where the common dreams went, where went the promise that Europe will be a continent of prosperity and peace, not of future conflict and decline of the European countries?" Yotova rhetorically asked.
Therefore, this scenario is the most unacceptable for her, "although the promises of a better functioning of the Single Market in Europe look good at first glance."
Meanwhile, Yotova said that the White Paper is a belated document. "This discussion should have started in Europe much earlier, when Europe was hit by the severe economic and financial crisis, when the first problems to deal with this crisis were seen, and when the budget for the Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020 was formed," she said.
"But, as we like to say in Bulgaria, it's better late than never, and in this regard, the White Paper is a very good basis for a concrete discussion not only within the nation states, but also within the EU about the future of the community," Yotova said.
Another good thing is that the White Paper begins with a very serious preamble, which gives a very clear picture and analysis of what are the main problems the EU is facing, a very accurate diagnosis of the crises and challenges that the EU are facing or will face, and where each country can find its own problems, Yotova said.
"And the best is that this is indeed a White Paper -- an open book in which all national states and especially the citizens of these countries will have the opportunity to engage in various discussions, both at national level and at European level, and each state can add its variant," she said.
When there is a desire for common actions, the countries can always find intersection and gold consensus among all these options, Yotova said.
As to her country, Yotova said that Bulgaria should first build a national position and national consensus on the White Paper, convincingly defend it on the European scene, and actively participate in all initiatives, which are available at European level about the future of the European project, she said.
