SPEECHES AND STATEMENTS

Statement made by President Rosen Plevneliev at the conference “European Integration as a lesson learned after World War II. What does that mean today?”

Excellences,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Dear friends,

Gdansk is a symbol of resistance – against the Nazis, but also against the communist regime. This brave city today embodies the European solidarity and vision for peace and human development.

We are all united in our judgment over Nazism. The democratic community has passed its verdict over this ideology. But is this enough? History has taught us that military victories come and go, but the fight for human rights and democracy is a never ending task. As Robert Schuman wrote himself:   

"World peace cannot be safeguarded without the making of creative efforts proportionate to the dangers which threaten it."

We must never forget that days after Europe was liberated from Hitler, a huge part of its territory was taken over by Stalin. At the time when Buchenwald was liberated, millions of Europeans had been humiliated in the Gulag camp system. These people did not understand the war was over; they did not celebrate the defeat of Nazism.

When Bulgarian soldiers that fought for the liberation of Europe in the end phase of the Second World War, returned home, they found out that the Bulgarian communists have already installed a totalitarian regime. Goebbels was defeated, but censorship remained, terror over free speech became part of everyday life. The so called People’s Court, organized by the communists, exterminated tens of thousands and the entire Bulgarian intellectual elite.

We must realize that Nazism and communism are two sides of the same coin of totalitarian regimes. It is important to understand the lessons of history and never again repeat the mistakes of the past. Today, the threats from the 20-th century seem ominous. More and more politicians in Europe rely on populism and nationalism, hoping that this would bring them success in domestic politics. There is a new wave of nationalism in Europe, addressing people’s fears on migration, a lack of economic perspective, high unemployment. Nationalists have a loud voice again, they are aggressive and they are on the rise. Modern patriotism, not nationalism, is needed more than ever today. Modern patriots stand for international order that settles disputes with arguments, not with guns, propaganda and hybrid wars! Modern patriots know that peace is not just the absence of war. Peace is human rights. Peace is the rule of law. Peace is integration and cooperation, as an antidote to destabilization.

The policy of Great Powers with their spheres of influence and periphery between them provokes the existence of frozen conflicts. East Ukraine could be the next one. Is that what we offer to the people of East Ukraine? Are they going to live better in a frozen conflict area, run by an illegitimate groups and their guns? Look at the other frozen conflict areas. Do people there live better? Are they more free, more safe and more prosperous? Who is going to invest in a frozen conflict area? If we think about people and their right to live in peace and prosperity, we need to oppose this wrong and dangerous strategy of keeping regions, countries and nations unstable and dependent.

Closing our eyes to this threat is not a sustainable political solution. This is a bitter reminder that what the international community has achieved in the last decades cannot be taken for granted; that the principles we built our world upon are not set in stone and it is up to all of us to respect, promote and protect them.

We believe in global principles. Today’s Russia believes in global interests and acts, based on the ideology of Great Powers with their spheres of interest, and uses every opportunity to divide and weaken the EU. On the other hand, we have the European Union, which is a unique project for peace, where big Germany, with 80 million citizens, and small Estonia, with 1,3 million, have the same rights. And where consensus-driven policies make every state important. No state is a periphery or subordinate. Everyone is a partner and everyone matters, no matter big or small, rich or poor.
In Europe we want to see interests that reflect the guiding principles and values of international order, not ones that oppose or even destroy them. We do not want to go back to the time when Great Powers allocated their spheres of influence. The Balkans have been victims of such policies for centuries and were considered the powder keg of Europe. A region, filled with conflict and strife. The engine of EU integration and democratic civil societies are driving the region to a historic change. From a region, torn apart by wars, to a region joined together in peace. Today, the Balkan countries work towards a common European future, building bridges of trust and cooperation. But our business there is not finished yet. This positive process could be reversed.

Today, the EU is the most successful political and economic union of states in history. The EU is a driver of democracy, the EU delivers peace and prosperity to its 500 million citizens from 28 countries and beyond. But the success of the European project should not make us overconfident. On the contrary. Seventy years after the defeat of Nazism, we must vigorously uphold the principles that have kept the peace for more than half a century.   

“Integration” is the key word to overcome the challenges we face. Integration in the fields of defense, energy, finance, foreign affairs. As our predecessors, we must be bold and not be fearful of taking political risks. Because now – similar to the times 70 years ago - we have a choice to make. Either we act boldly and continue writing the history of united Europe, or play shortsighted national interest policies which will certainly lead to instability.  

So, let us not be impressed by huge parades that demonstrate military might. Instead, let us explain to our children how we can achieve a Europe, that is united and at peace.

Thank you!