Integrating with Europe” “

Bulgaria’s journey towards the European Union is proceeding ever more rapidly. Her membership of the EU is expected to take place in 2007. The Bulgarian Catholic Church is also busily preparing for the event. The president of the Bulgarian Bishops’ Conference, Msgr. Hristo Projkov , recently participated in a meeting held by Comece, the Commission of the episcopates of the European Community. The Bulgarian Church, subdivided into 3 dioceses, comprises some 80,000 faithful out of a total population of 7,870,000. There are 44 parishes, 5 bishops, 15 diocesan priests, 32 male religious, 85 female religious (source: Statistical Yearbook of the Church 2001). We interviewed Bishop Projkov. What role can the Bulgarian Church play in the process of Euro-integration? “The Church must play a very important role. Unfortunately Bulgarians don’t yet understand very well what the EU means. A good deal of indifference can be felt. As far as ordinary people are concerned, until recently we were in the Communist bloc, now we are about to enter the European Union. And that’s it. It should be pointed out, however, that we were forced members in the Communist bloc, whereas now we are about to enter a Union of countries of our free will. No great changes have taken place in Bulgaria, life hasn’t changed, but there is the security of belonging to a larger organization. Bulgarians must understand that sooner or later with EU accession something positive will happen for everyone. There are still so many things to do. It will be a process full of difficulties, and of sacrifices”. What concrete commitments have you so far assumed? “We have to prepare the faithful, and explain to them that unfortunately in the EU some things don’t correspond to the Christian view of life. The problem of euthanasia, for example, is an issue being much discussed in Europe and we have committed ourselves to speaking with Bulgarian parliamentarians to express our firm opposition. After my return from the COMECE meeting, I had several meetings with MPs, especially with members of the Commission for human rights, who will participate in discussions within the EU. Fortunately the Bulgarian Parliament pronounced against euthanasia and cloning in June 2004 and this greatly facilitates our commitment. I am also counting a great deal on the discussions of Bulgarian representatives with the EU so that they may pronounce themselves in favour of life”. Bulgaria is a country with an Orthodox majority. So far Greece is the only member state that is mainly Orthodox. Will there be a meeting of religious traditions? What do you think? “I think East and West must share the riches they possess. This mutual enrichment will be very fruitful both for the Orthodox Church and for the Catholic Church and Protestant communities. I think rapprochement is a logical process since we all share the same Christian roots. Take the example of Greece: the Greeks feel themselves at home in united Europe and they haven’t become any less Orthodox than before”. What effect will membership of COMECE have on the Bulgarian Bishops’ Conference? “The Bulgarian Bishops’ Conference has always worked very well together with COMECE. But when Bulgaria becomes a full member of the EU this participation will be even closer. We are very happy with the issues tackled in COMECE, because they are topical and useful for our pastoral ministry. Someone might say that the Church ought not to participate in political life, but the Church must express her view on moral issues and must therefore keep abreast of European political questions. Bulgarian participation in COMECE is very important because by benefiting from its long experience we can help diffuse the European Christian view in Bulgaria. Those who work in COMECE have a very good knowledge of EU policy and could give us very useful advice and guidance”.