History of the Association / Main activities:

 

2001 :

Eurointegration Association carried out national public debates at the sea resort

“Sunny beach ”, on the following topics: “Opportunities for popularization of Bulgaria in Europe – political, economic, social, and cultural aspects”; “What Europe do we want?”; “Interaction between the nongovernmental sector and state institutions on regional and national level”; “International initiatives and future international cooperation”. The initiative was supported by The “Hans Zeidel Foundation” in Sofia.

 

2002 :

At the beginning of 2002, Eurointegration Association and the British Council launched a joint project

“Training for elaboration of winning projects” in the beginning of 2002. The British Council arranged the costs for the visit and remuneration of the expert from the United Kingdom. “Eurointegration Association” arranged participation costs of the members of the regional clubs. The project was highly appreciated by the communities within the regional clubs.

“Eurointegration Association” organized the national conference “Bulgaria in NATO in 2002” focusing on the problems of national, European and global security. It took place on 25/26 February 2002 in Sofia at the National Palace of Culture. Special guest and lecturer on the conference was Dr. Jeffrey Simon from the National Defense University, Washington, D.C., USA. The conference was organized as a broad international forum for discussion of the problems of Bulgaria’s EU and NATO integration. With the financial assistance of the Embassy of the USA and The “Hanns-Seidel” Foundation

Conference on the “Interaction among state institutions and the nongovernmental sector in the process of Euro-Atlantic integration of Bulgaria” was organized on 26 June 2002 at the Hotel “The Hrankov Castle” Hotel. It was organized in cooperation with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and financially supported by The “Open Society” Foundation. Representation of civil initiatives before the diplomatic corps was the objective of the forum.

“Eurointegration Association” handed over honorary diplomas and plates for contribution to the processes of Euro-Atlantic integration of Bulgaria to the persons as follows:

H.E. Georg Potyka – ambassador of Austria;

H.E. Tonchi Stanichich – ambassador of Croatia;

H.E. Hyadar Berk – ambassador of Turkey,

H.E. Filipos Krityoitis – ambassador of Cyprus;

H.E. Tysto Tolvanen – ambassador of Finland;

H.E. Roderick Moore – ambassador of the USA,

representatives of the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Economy, media, as well as members of “Eurointegration Association”.

“Eurointegration Association” continued carrying out public debates and regional conferences on the topics as follows:

As a continuation of the idea for uniting the efforts of all Balkan states in the process of European integration, “Eurointegration Association” elaborated and implemented at the end of 2001 a program for cross-border cooperation and strengthening of the relations with neighboring countries.

The beginning was set in the winter of 2001 (8-9 December), when an

international conference on the topic “Together on the road to European Union” was held in the city of Nish, Serbia.

Relevant initiative was launched in March 2002 in the city of Silistra with a

view of our membership in EU and NATO and aiming at strengthening of the relations between Bulgaria and Romania, as well as at broadening of cross-border cooperation.

“Eurointegration Association” organized and held on 26-27 April 2002 in the

city of of Blagoevgrad the conference “Cross-border cooperation – European perspectives and expectations” with the active participation of representatives of Serbia, Romania, FYROM, and Albania.

The forum was financed by the “Hanns -Seidel” Foundation.

In the summer of 2002, representatives of the nongovernmental sector in

FYROM, working on the problems of Euro-Atlantic integration, invited the experts of our team in the aim of exchanging experience in the establishment of nongovernmental organizations. Relevant nongovernmental structures were established in Skopie, Ohrid, and Strumica within this initiative.

 

2003 :

“Eurointegration Association” launched the project “Implementation of

European standards in the activities of the Bulgarian public administration” for the period December 2002 – June 2003 for training of civil servants of the Sofia City District Administration. The project was implemented together with the Institute for Public Administration and European Integration in Sofia as partner and was completed successfully in June 2003. The objectives of the project were: raising awareness of civil servants about basic aspects of European integration, EU community law, relations between Bulgaria and the EU and negotiation process, as well as the introduction of better practices in administrative services. The training was focused on two topics: “European integration” and “Administrative service for citizens”. All civil servants of the Sofia City District Administration were trained in compliance with a time-schedule of the project, previously consulted with the institution management in regard of assessment of work and training process. The project was won before “Open Society” Foundation

 

2004:

“Eurointegration Association” implemented the project: ”My Europe – let us

be Europeans now and here in the city of Radomir” in April –May 2004. The project was implemented with the financial support of the Delegation of the European Commission to Bulgaria.

In the Radomir Municipality the Association established informal Euro-clubs in 13 cultural clubs and 3 schools, working together with the local authorities, schools, and cultural clubs .

The training on EU-matters – history, institutions and law, policies, enlargement and Bulgarians preparation for membership- was carried on for students within the programme.

Public debates were held in the 13 informal Euro-clubs for increasing the information of the civil society on the European integration and the challenges for Bulgaria.

 

2005:

Series of public debates “BULGARIA builds its Way towards EU-

Membership” – in Sofia, Varna, Sliven, Jambol. The initiative was supported by the “Hanns-Seidel” Foundation.

24, 25 and 26 February 2005, hotel “Rodina”-Sofia. The conference was

devoted to the European Constitution as a new challenge for creating democracy, peace, justice and cooperation in Europe.

Main Lecturers: H.E. Dr. Harold Kindermann – Ambassador of Germany in Bulgaria; Mrs. Nelly Kutzkova- judge, the Bulgarian representative in the Convent; Dr. Wolfgang Glesker – Director “Hanns-Seidel” Foundation in Sofia; Mrs. Maria Serkedjieva – President of Eurointegration Association, Mrs. Aleksandra Tzekova – Ministry of Justice.

Representatives of the 29 Regional clubs of Eurointegration Association in the country, diplomats, state institutions, nongovernmental organizations and the media were invited to participate in the forum.