Focus News Agency: Commissioner Kuneva, is not the fact that you will be the leader of the National Movement for Stability and Progress (NMSP) election ticket for MEP going to create a conflict regarding your post as European Commissioner?
Meglena Kuneva: I have not only received the permission, but the support of the President of the EC Mr. Barroso. In fact, he expects that by the end of the month European Commissioners that intend to participate in the elections will notify him. He has approved of me taking part in the elections following all procedures in the Code of Good Administrative Behavior for staff of the European Commission. My colleagues and I will have the right to participate in the elections and obtain three-week leaves for our pre-election campaigns. My leave will start May 17 and end at the date of the European elections - June 7. Afterwards, I will return to my regular duties as a European Commissioner. My program is planned, so that there might be no obstructions to my work. My program will be more intensive until May 17.

Focus News Agency: If by decision of the voters, you do become a MEP, will you give up your post as European Commissioner? Will there be a chance for you to become a member of the EC once again?
Meglena Kuneva: Of course there will be. In any case, I would not venture prognosticate on what the results from the MEP elections will be. Let us wait for the decision of the voters. The outcome of no campaign is predetermined. Referring to the elections as if they were a fait accompli would actually mean underestimating the election process and the people’s choice. I would like to fight for every vote and every person voting for European Parliament. I do not perceive things as granted in any way. Otherwise, what I am engaged with right now, is obtaining my three-week leave (as a few of my colleagues also intend to do). The European Parliament will be formed in August and after the campaign I will, undoubtedly, return to my obligations as a European Commissioner, in compliance to the rules I was granted my leave under. What matters to me is being where I am mostly needed.

Focus News Agency: Obviously, by choosing you to top the NMSP MEP election ticket, the party has set its hopes on your figure, perceived by Bulgarian society as positive. Will this positive image contribute to the party’s success, in view of its low results, according to sociological surveys? Do you have all the NMSP’s trumps in your hand?
Meglena Kuneva: Very nice of you to say this. My general believe is that every party is a project oriented towards people, thus, success and failure are not everlasting. Every party must interpret the signals given by voters and take measures to correct what people dislike. I noticed many new faces in the NMSP election ticket. I take it as a positive signal, that many young people, and numerous women, I believe politics lacks, joined the NMSP. In the frames of the election campaign, we shall all learn and obtain lots of European knowledge, because people are bound to ask many questions about everything they are interested in. Afterwards, we will all be much more aware of Europe and no matter what we do with our lives, this knowledge will play a significant role.
In my opinion, my election is a matter of confidence. I have always taken part in the elections and I have never ignored the European topic. In fact, I was chosen by the European Parliament to be a European Commissioner. This is why I find it necessary to participate in the MEP elections and return this gesture of respect. The greatest enemies of those elections are apathy, the misunderstanding of their meaning and the necessity to vote. Bulgaria will have its 17 MEPs, I have worked to guarantee this inclusion contract. What matters is that as many Bulgarians as possible should nominate them, because a major part of our hopes are still related to Europe and European institutions. I cannot understand how come such high hopes and confidence in Europe go hand in hand with such a low percent of election activity. This is some sort of a political oxymoron that, by my opinion, is the enemy. I am everybody’s Commissioner – for those who vote and the ones that refuse to, and I will remain a Commissioner during those three weeks necessary to organize the election campaign, I will prepare a positive election campaign for anyone who might be interested.

Focus News Agency: You were presented today as a “durable runner across problematic tracks”, what does this mean?
Meglena Kuneva: I do not know, this is an image suggested by Gergana Passy. I believe that there is certain risk and a great deal of difficulties involved with every choice. But by me opinion, it would also represent a huge political risk not to take part in the elections, in view of such strong social support. Choice is determined by character. What matters to me is following my own believes and character and if people who sympathize me are willing to stay by my side during the debate on the European Parliament, I think it is fair, that I should participate in those elections. Every minute I spend with voters would contribute to my work as a Commissioner.

Focus News Agency: Why would NMSP choose to bet on new faces in its election ticket? What does this mean?
Meglena Kuneva: I perceive parties as political projects that need new people to develop. They need to be vitalized, it is the only way to make sure there is good work atmosphere and a strong basis for dialogue. Anyone, interested in politics oriented towards the benefit of the public, and not led by personal interest, should not doubt his efforts would be welcomed heartily. I am very glad that people from the NMSP ticket – teachers, engineers, entrepreneurs, have ventured to participate in current years, when political work that is the work of parties is very unpopular among people. It is important that those people decided to do politics in a way that serves the benefit of people.

Focus News Agency: Where will the emphasis in NMSP’s campaign fall?
Meglena Kuneva: The subjects will be very rational, like the ones referring to the safety of goods and foods, subjects that regard people’s everyday life. There are topics that seem irrelevant at first glance, but concern our daily round, like the rules under which EU funds are being appropriated, if they should or should not be simplified and how, should there be joint efforts against the economic crisis etc. We should make a general evaluation on where to lead the EU, if we want to increase the authority of European institutions or leave decisions to be part of the national competence. This is a vital question for Europe and it will not be easy to achieve consensus. It is a political debate we must lead in Bulgaria. We must reconsider our rights along with our obligations.