site.btaVMRO Urges MPs to Protect National Interest, Unite against EU Mobility Package

December 5 (BTA) - The MPs from the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (VMRO), part of the power-sharing United Patriots coalition, urged all parties in Parliament to come up with a joint position and for a statement by the National Assembly concerning Monday's agreement of the EU Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council on its general approach to a key reform of the road transport sector, VMRO said in a press release Wednesday.

VMRO argues that the agreed proposals in the so-called mobility package also known as the Macron law, named after French President Emmanuel Macron who proposed it, will bring harm to Bulgarian families. According to VMRO, road haulage accounts for 17 per cent of Bulgaria's GDP and provides the livelihood of at least 150,000 families. "We see how France and Germany forcibly impose their interests, want to steal these drivers and cause bankruptcy to Bulgarian companies. We are witnessing a drastic and arrogant attempt by the governments of France and Germany to destroy and steal Bulgarian businesses via the EU law. The rules of fair competition and the free market are grossly violated," VMRO says in its statement.

The party argues that the Bulgarian government must sharply oppose the passage of the proposals, including by resorting to the option of vetoing a resolution of importance to France and Germany, whatever this may be.

VMRO Deputy Chairman and MP Iskren Vesselinov said in a Facebook post that the mobility package needs to be rejected because it is harmful. Vesselinov stressed that "the battle was lost but not the war". "The Bulgarian National Assembly needs to issue a statement so that it can be shown that the EU is a union of equal nations and not a colonial project," he said.

For his part Bulgarian MEP Angel Dzhambazki, who is VMRO deputy leader, said that VRMO supports and will assist the organization of any fair protest before the European Parliament and the European Commission. Dzhambazki urged for a clear and unambiguous position of the Bulgarian government on the issue.

On Monday the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council of the EU agreed on its general approach to a key reform of the road transport sector. At the meeting Bulgaria, along with Poland, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Croatia, and Malta voted against the general approach to the reform, which includes drivers' working conditions, special posting rules for drivers in international transport, access to the haulage market, and improved enforcement. RY/ZH

/МЙ/