Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU. A benefit or a responsibility?
Huge headlines. Numerous reports on TV 10 times a day, every day. Endless passionate discussions flooding the timelines on social media. Bulgaria is taking the presidency of the Council of the European Union this January. So what?
It is interesting and a little bit funny that the idea of the average Bulgarian about the European Union is that it is something that our country should only benefit from.
I hear such comments among my friends, on the TV. I very often notice such discussions in social media and online newspapers. A very common question is “What do we get from Bulgaria taking the EU Council presidency?”
After a conversation with Robert Phillips, currently teaching Politics and European Studies at American University in Bulgaria, it turns out that this question is provoked by a common misconception.
“This is a leadership of an organization that benefits all of the members. It is the responsibility of taking over something that benefits Bulgarians every day of the year, and now is Bulgaria’s turn to be responsible for helping it move forward and solving problems. In terms of Bulgaria getting something material — it’s a no, except those 20,000 people who are going to come and stay in hotels. What people need to understand is that sometimes it is not about what you get out of it but what you put into it,” Phillips explains.
The presidency of the Council of the European Union was established in 2009 by the Lisbon Treaty. The Council’s presidency is held by three members of the European Union determined in advance. Right now Estonia has the presidency. This month Bulgaria takes over. In June it will be Austria.
From now until June, Bulgaria has the opportunity to influence the EU’s agenda. But it is not acting alone. Bulgaria, Estonia and Austria have worked together to make long-term goals. It is something like student governments do at universities.
Bulgaria will chair Council meetings and represent the Council of the EU in relations with other EU institutions. Coordinating national policies, being a broker for the member states in the Council and organizing all presidency-related meetings and events are serious responsibilities knocking on our country’s door.