- Corruption is seen as a major obstacle to development in the new member states
Atypical Sea Spider at the Black Sea
Tuesday 29 May 2007
In the marine world, the sea spider (pycnogonid) occupies a special place thanks to its capacities to adapt at any environment and its special ability to camouflage itself by launching an ink cloud. The first remarkable sea spider of civil societies was born in Italy and it belonged to the Italian mafia. It has been thought that its presence has been considerable diminished, but one should have a closer look on the Eastern Europe sea side as it might be that we face the challenge of the die hard marine animal.
A first sign of the Eastern sea spider appeared on the 4th December 2006 when the Romanian Minister of Economics and Trade, Codrut Seres, resigned under very blurred circumstances. He has been accused of economic espionage together with the Minister of Communications, Zsolt Nagy and Stamen Stancev, a Bulgarian consultant on matters of privatisation for the Credit Suisse Boston. The accusations which have been brought against them involve the establishment of an espionage network comprised of Romanian functionaries and international consultants through whom it was possible to obtain secret economic information for foreign companies that were interested in participating in the privatisation process in Romania. It has been stated that the latter were keen on certain companies owned by the Minister of Economy and the Minister of Communications. The name of a Russian figure, Vadim Benyatov Don and a Czech, Michal Susak also appeared on the accusation list.
The tentacles of organized crime reached very easily Bulgaria, the neighbour of Romania. The Bulgarian Minister of Economy and Energetic, Roman Ovcharov has been asked to resign following some accusations which are very alike to the Romanian ones. As he is also involved in a corruption scandal and information leak, the outcome, was again, resignation. At the same time, two of his deputies were dismissed by the Bulgarian Prime Minister, Serghei Stanisev.
As described by science, the sea spider when in trouble tends to hide beneath the rocks and among the algae that are found along shorelines. Today, it is no longer visible. Both Romania and Bulgaria managed somehow to hold their elections and referenda. Unfortunately, in Bulgaria observers said that the 28% turnout for the EP elections on the 20th May was a signal that many people were disappointed by their mainstream parties. The elections were dominated by internal matters and not the future of Bulgaria in the EU. The corruption problems described above were the main topic of discussion and also the decisive factor in Bulgarians votes. The National Public Opinion Studies said that the ethnic Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) came first, gathering 25.7% of the votes, the Socialists, who lead in the three-party coalition (including MRF), came second with 25.4% and Citizens for Bulgarias European Development (GERB) populist party was third with 25.2%. Hence the exit poll returns gave the Socialists, MRF and GERB five seats each of Bulgarias eighteen seats in the EP. The ultra-nationalist Atak party will have two seats and the centrist National Movement Simeon II (NMSS) one seat.
Romanias last concern is the EP elections. The country does not presently know who leads it. President Basescu won the referendum on the 19th May with 74.3% over 24.9% against with a turnout of 44.04%, though this does not mean that the troubles are over. The war between him and the Prime Minister adds instability to the political future of Romania. Two outcomes to the situation look probable; either Tariceanu, the Prime Minister representing the Liberal Party leaves the party and joins the opposition, which is less likely to happen. Or the situation will continue until the President will begin the procedure for the anticipated elections.
While playing with politics like a ping-pong ball, international media and EU institutions are threatening Romania with the safeguard clause. Bulgarians seem to be far from EU issues, their attention being focused on the new sea spider, waiting for it to show the other tentacles. For the sake of science, we will keep the sea spider under observation.
By Liliana-Codruta Filip, EUD researcher
For more information, please contact: liliana@eudemocrats.org