H.E. Mark Michelson: Balkan countries must adopt EU standards
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H.E.Mark Michelson, Belgian ambassador to Bulgaria
Interview: Julia Trifonova
Q: Your Excellency, do you have any new information about the Bulgarians who died in the explosion in Liege last week?
A: No. I read the Belgian government reports in the papers, the statement of the Bulgarian ambassador to Belgium and of the Bulgarian foreign ministry.
Q: What was the cause of the explosion?
A: I have no information. The Belgian government has contacted the Bulgarian embassy there.
Q: Are you aware of the future plans of Kamenitza Brewery, the oldest brewery in Bulgaria? Its Belgian owners sold it…
A: I plan to visit the brewery site tomorrow and I will find out more. My program includes visits to other Belgian companies in the region.
Q: Sweden decided to close its embassy in Sofia and some other capitals. What does this say about the relations between the two countries?
A: Sweden is closing around 5 embassies as a way to save money. In Belgium we close and open embassies every few years as well. We do this as a result of political priorities and budget-related reasons.
Q: Are there plans to enlarge or limit diplomatic missions on the Balkans?
A: Currently we have no plans to launch or end missions. In Belgium there are wishes to open embassies in some countries but not on the Balkans due to lack of funds.
Q: What policies will Belgium have toward Balkan countries aiming for EU accession, like Serbia, Croatia, Macedonia and Turkey?
A: We will not have embassies there for the same reasons. We perceive and accept these countries’ European perspective. Every country that wants to become a member must adopt our values and standards. These standards must be reached, the values shared. Integration is a process. There must be EU observers in every country. I am not talking about politics but legislation. The new standards and values must be reflected therein.
Q: How do you plan to attract more Belgian investors?
A: Belgium is the seventh-largest foreign investor in Bulgaria with total investments of EUR 1.3 B. There are 12-14 companies in the region of Plovdiv alone. Our interests are in the brewing industry, textile and car electronics. There are several Belgian companies in the IT sector. Plovdiv attracts a significant number of Belgian tourists.
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