Daniel Kaddik: EU Skepticism is Triggered by Lack of Communication

Daniel Kaddik is the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom's Project Director for Southeast Europe. His fields of expertise include EU integration, the EU's Eastern Enlargement and its Eastern Partnership programs. Integration, alongside economic development, media freedom, and rule of law, as well as youth political organization are among the main points of project activities in his region.

The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom is the foundation for liberal politics in the Federal Republic of Germany and aims to promote the principles of freedom, human rights, rule of law and democracy in more than 60 countries, which include Bulgaria. It also aims at enhancing liberal values and offering support to liberal parties and groups, as well as active citizens.

In the following interview, Mr Kaddik touches a range of subjects – from democratic development in Bulgaria and the performance of its liberal parties to this week’s European elections and the problems of relations between Bulgaria and other present or aspiring EU member states.

Our conversation also came ahead of Monday, May 19's event organized by the FNF and PanEuropa Bulgaria entitled #BGVOTESEU which is to be held in Sofia and at which the European elections this week are due to be discussed.

Mr Kaddik, your foundation’s Southeast European project bureau covers Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova and Macedonia. Why is it then based in Bulgaria and not Romania, for instance?

The decision was taken during the time of the NDSV-DPS [2005-2009] government. We had high expectations for Bulgaria and that was the reason why we actually moved the office from Bucharest to Sofia. And not only this...