The situation in Bulgaria over the upcoming elections has several similarities with the other EU member states. Indeed, there are at least three common challenges which will be in focus during these European elections.
First of all, in Bulgaria like in the majority of EU countries, the turnout in the elections will be an important factor of the outcome. The political environment in Bulgaria is still characterised by social unrest and frustration on the side of citizens. There is a part of distrust regarding the political class and its ability to make things better. At the moment, polls indicate that about one fourth of Bulgarian voters are not planning to cast their ballots in the upcoming European elections. The last general elections in May 2013 had a low turnout (just above 50 per cent). So the first challenge is the participation of Bulgarian voters to the European elections, we need to convince them that it is worth and important for Bulgaria's future.
The second challenge during the upcoming elections is the echo that Eurosceptic arguments will or will not have among voters. Like in many other European countries, there is a readiness, in some political parties, to blame the EU and the European integration as a whole for all the problems we are facing and especially for the economic crisis. This is of course not true; thanks to the EU we avoided the worst in many EU countries. Moreover, this kind of position over the European integration is not at all a positive and constructive. It will be crucial to focus the debate on the solutions, on how we can make better for the EU and for Bulgaria within the EU, rather than wasting time on pointing out what is not working. We already know that some political parties will play the card of the nationalism and we must remain vigilant over the ability of these parties to reach the 5.9 per cent threshold.
The third challenge faced in the context of the upcoming elections concerns the issues which will be at the heart of the debate: Will we have a real European debate or will the European elections in Bulgaria be decided according to the national debates? Of course some national questions are closely linked to national stakes but let´s not forget that those who will be elected will have to seat and work in Brussels and Strasbourg, on European issues, in an international and cross-party environment. Thus the debate should at least touch the main European issues and candidates should have position on them.
The EU common policies have a strong added value. A recent study by the EP showed the cost of non-EU: a more complete single market in the digital field could raise the long-run level of member state GDP by at least four per cent; the completion of the banking union represents in itself a potential gain €35bn per year. That is why I strongly wish that the European issues will be at the heart of the debate. Because these elections should be an opportunity for the Bulgarian voters to give their opinion, to bring their input in what kind of European common policies they want for growth, for a competitive economy; what kind of migration policy, what kind of youth policy, what kind of policy they want for gender equality. The future of the EU will depend on their answers to these questions.