Bulgaria: The Spectre of a Two-Speed Europe
One of Bulgaria’s paradoxes is that 25 years after the collapse of communism and almost ten years of EU membership, it seems to be quite unhappy with the transition but rather happy with its EU membership. In this way, the EU continues to be a beacon outside rather than the reality inside the country.
Bulgaria is generally pro-integration, identifying energy union, migration and asylum in particular as key policy domains where more should be achieved at the EU level. However, it shuns policies that could slow down its economic catch-up with other EU countries, such as common taxation policy.
The EU does not suffer from any lack of legitimacy in Bulgaria. However, it needs to remain credible in the eyes of the citizens, help EU countries to be ready to face today’s globalisation and be a relevant actor on the international scene.
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Bulgaria: The Spectre of a Two-Speed Europe
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