Clearly stated will, determination, commitment, partnership, convergence and enhanced cooperation – these are some of the words, used by both the Bulgarian and French parties during the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron in Bulgaria. That was the first visit of a French President to Bulgaria in the past 10 years and in the words of President Rumen Radev it was emblematic, revealing a new stage in the development of bilateral relations.

Emmanuel Macron came to Bulgaria within the frames of his initial European tour after his inauguration in May 2017. These changed relations were spotted yet on June 6, when during the visit of Bulgarian PM Boyko Borissov to the Élysée Palace Mr. Macron was pleased to accept the invitation for a visit to Bulgaria. Mr. Borissov said back then: “Thanks to your energy we will lead Europe forward. This will be a strong and unified Europe, but do not forget about its periphery.”

That was the spirit of the French President’s talks with Bulgaria’s top statesmen who showed real unanimity in terms of both the essential for this state issues and also of the topics that Mr. Macron wished to discuss, displaying his talent as a true European leader. “It is time to put an end to the separation between the East and West, between those inside the Eurozone and outside of it,” Emmanuel Macron stated clearly.

Was his visit satisfactory to Bulgaria?

Visibly the answer is yes after the clearly declared commitments on sensitive topics like the Schengen accession /after an immediate reform of the system with the participation of this country/ and also on the accession to the ERM2 mechanism /also known as the waiting-room of the Eurozone/. According to the French President, Bulgaria has the full right to take an active part into the rapprochement process in the spheres of economy and finance within the Eurozone. The same can be said for the country’s full integration to the common European defence system. That explained the presence of representatives of France’s arms industry, willing to participate in two of the projects for modernization of Bulgaria’s armed forces – the construction of two module patrol vessels and the supply of 198 combat vehicles for the infantry. The subject for the cooperation and visible trade between the two states was also tackled during the talks both with the President and the Premier. Despite the efforts and certain progress over the past 10 years and the presence of 200 French companies with 16,000 employees in Bulgaria, France still takes the modest 9^th position in the rankings of foreign investments in this country /EUR 1.9 bln./. Things could change in case Total S.A. discovers gas in the Black Sea, but for the moment the trade and economic balance remains negative /-365 mln. euros for 2016/.

Bulgaria was happy with the strong French commitment on subjects, painful for it and Mr. Macron was also satisfied with the support received for the reforming of the controversial “posted” workers’ directive. By the way, it was made clear barely in Bulgaria – after the series of talks in Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Romania - that a clear difference should be made between a posted worker /under the 1996 directive/ and a transport worker /under the 1993 directive/. And while Mr. Macron declared himself against social dumping, the Bulgarian President went even further, stigmatizing tax and corporate dumping which violated the common principle for “equal payment to equal labor”.

In Bulgaria the youngest President of the 5^th French republic showed new style and utterance, clearly revealing his will for strengthening and expansion of the partnership between France and Bulgaria within a renewed EU. Emmanuel Macron also set terms for the solving of each of the issues affected, clearly stating that despite its size, this country’s opinion mattered in Brussels. Being too optimistic, some people asked if Bulgaria was the new big ally of France in the Balkans. Everything contracted shall be implemented, French President Emmanuel Macron assured and we will allow ourselves to end up with his phrase: “Now it’s time to get to work!”

English version: Zhivko Stanchev