Kristian Vigenin: The enlargement of the European Union has to be widely supported by citizens

“The enlargement of the European Union is not simply a technical process, it is a question of common will and commitment on the part of every member state and every national parliament. Enlargement must not become hostage to possible changes to the EU treaties and to the functioning of the EU, which would take time and energy without us being sure of the final result. The treaties give us instruments even now that we have not made full use of. It is important to guarantee that the enlargement process will be not only politically sustainable, but also widely supported by citizens.” This was said by the head of the Delegation of Bulgarian Socialists in the European Parliament Kristian Vigenin at a conference on the institutional consequences of EU enlargement. It was organised by the Committee on Constitutional Affairs in the EP, with the participation of members of the national parliaments of the member states and the candidate countries.

As chair of the Committee on European Affairs of the Bulgarian parliament, Vigenin took an active part in a number of interparliamentary meetings and dialogues. In this context he pointed out: “I know very well how far national parliaments are involved in the process of European Union enlargement. And that is exactly why I am convinced that the capacity of national institutions to work actively on EU questions, including on the topic of enlargement, has to be strengthened.”