“Problems of the meaningful dialogue and cooperation with Bulgarians around the world” were discussed by the participants in the Council of spirituality, culture and national identity under President Rosen Plevneliev on June 18, 2012.
“When talking about Bulgarians around the world the primary objective should be the search for different options for their successful realization in our country” stated Ms. Monika Panayotova, Chairwoman of the Committee on European Affairs and Oversight of the European Funds (CEAOEF), on the Council meeting. She greeted the presidential institution for prioritizing the issue of Bulgarians abroad and for conducting a broad debate on it. Ms. Panayotova expressed her hope that the discussion will add value to the development of a long-awaited and repeatedly postponed in time document – the future National Strategy for Bulgarians around the world.
According to the CEAOEF’s Chairwoman, there are three approaches to our compatriots abroad, which were the focus of her speech.
The first approach, according to Ms. Panayotova is the so-called “traditional approach”. In the first place, it aims to stimulate Bulgarians abroad to achieve the "American dream" in Bulgaria. Due to the fact that there are still unfilled niches in many areas of the economy, vertical and horizontal opportunity for growth is much greater. Ms. Panayotova added that this potential should be used by attracting young people in the government and young entrepreneurs with innovative ideas to implement in our country. The second option, which should be considered within the traditional approach, according to Ms. Monika Panayotova is the use of European Blue Card (1) to attract Bulgarians from the so-called historical Diaspora in the Western outlands, Ukraine and Moldova. Such a practice would show how an European policy instrument can be successfully used to achieve our national objectives related to creating attractive conditions for employment and residence of highly qualified specialists from the historical Diaspora.
In the second place, Ms. Panayotova put emphasis on the "new approach" to our compatriots abroad. She noted that this approach underpins the program of the new presidential team and consists of finding the most appropriate means to maintain, optimize and enhance communication with the Bulgarians abroad, regardless of their personal choice to remain outside or to find realization in Bulgaria. The active communication with successful Bulgarians abroad is an excellent opportunity to target their potential to the realization of our national interests. Ms. Monika Panayotova focused on the implementation of this new approach - by building networks of "informal ambassadors" of our country in various fields, to contribute for strengthening the positive image of Bulgaria. Such networks also include the Bulgarians working in the European institutions. According to the Chairwoman of CEAOEF they have valuable expertise, critical and constructive opinion that could assist institutions to develop the overall vision for Bulgaria in Europe 2020, and adequacy in constructing and defending the participation of Bulgaria in the European Agenda.
In this context, falls the third approach to Bulgarians abroad. It is a kind of symbiosis between the "traditional" and the "new" approach. In this regard, the CEAOEF’s Chairwoman proposed the vision for Bulgaria 2020 to be formulated with the participation of Bulgarians abroad, because this will reinforce their commitment to the development of our country by 2020 and may determine their choice to remain outside or to return and find realization in Bulgaria.


(1) The EU Blue Card is a single authorization for residence and work for citizens of third countries, for the purposes of highly qualified employment, as they are given the opportunity to be accompanied by members of their families.