Takeaways From the Bulgarian Ambassador’s Visit to Groningen
The Ambassador Konstantin Dimitrov was invited to discuss Bulgaria’s recent accession to Schengen
Last Thursday, the Bulgarian Society Groningen, along with SIB (Studentenvereniging voor Internationale Betrekkingen), invited Ambassador Konstantin Dimitrov for a talk about the accession of Bulgaria and Romania in Schengen in Groningen.
9th May: Europe Day — a day to celebrate the unity and help between countries within the territory of Europe. Incidentally, the Bulgarian society Groningen commemorated the new accession of their own country and Romania in the Schengen area which took place in March 2024. They did so by inviting the ambassador of Bulgaria and organizing a Q&A on the topic of the new accession.
The event commenced with a short introduction by the board of the Bulgarian Society Groningen on their activities and aims. Afterwards, a member of SIB’s board also summarized their events. As the official student association of the United Nations, SIB organizes lectures in the University of Groningen buildings. They invited the ambassador to start the discussion.
Ambassador Konstantin Dimitrov gave a speech on the importance of the beginning of the accession of the two countries and the illegal migrant traffic. On the 31st March, the two countries got partially integrated into the Schengen area, with no control over their maritime or air borders. It is yet to be determined when they will be fully accepted with their terrestrial borders open.
The questions were related to Bulgaria and the geopolitical circumstances around it, whether it would meet the expectations of the European Commission, and others.
Before the public Q&A, here are some questions Groningen Mail asked the Ambassador on the topic of such organised events and their value:
What role do niche societies play in a country’s culture outside the country?
“First of all, they contribute by maintaining the language alive, as well as the culture and the affiliation to their homeland – these niche societies, as you call them. Second of all, they are the most reliable stances when Bulgarians need a help in this foreign country. Third of all, they are the main distributors of education, Bulgarian language and culture. They maintain the Bulgarians in a foreign country active when it comes to elections as well as in their daily lives.”
Do other political figures have an obligation to join events like this one?
“In my opinion, each politician should establish contacts with respectable citizen associations, especially with the youth in a foreign country. Because on the one hand, you are strongly patriotic and on the other hand, you are demanding and critical, and if one politician cannot grasp the minds of such an auditory, he could only lose.”
Even though the event’s main focus was Schengen, some of the organizers had a different point of view. According to Lazar Popov, the president and co-settler of the Bulgarian Society Groningen: “I think that such events should always be organized. Schengen is just one occasion which makes people get to know others with shared interests and makes them discuss intriguing and important topics”.
The Schengen area is a free movement area where border control does not take place, unless there is a necessary situation.
Konstantin Dimitrov is the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Bulgaria in The Kingdom of the Netherlands since 2021, as he is the former ambassador of Bulgaria in the United Kingdom (2012-2019). His career path includes membership in the European Parliament in 2007, while he is currently in the Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria party and the European People’s Party – European Democrats.
SIB (Studentenvereniging voor Internationale Betrekkingen) is the official national Dutch student association of the United Nations. They organize lectures, symposia, and other events related to politics, economics, environmental issues, etc. The organizers in SIB often invite politicians – ambassadors, MEPs, as well as journalists and others directly involved in the current political environment to talk about the latest changes of issues in Europe.
Bulgarian Society Groningen is the first of the chain Bulgarian Society Netherlands. It is a space for all Bulgarian people in the Netherlands to socialize, celebrate traditional holidays together, help each other. They also spread their culture and language – their next event will be an exposition of their arts and music talents as young jazz musicians will play at their Spring Gala this 24th May. Bulgarian Society Netherlands keeps in contact with other non-student organizations such as Bulgarian Hub Eindhoven and events taking place at the Bulgarian schools in Amsterdam and Leiden.
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