Rule of Law, Human Rights and Democracy in Bulgaria and Beyond
Do you know that Bulgaria is the fastest shrinking nation in the world according to the United Nations? Are you aware that Bulgaria has the third highest mortality rate in the world according to the CIA Factbook? Have you heard that there are more Bulgarians working abroad than in Bulgaria? Have you realized that Bulgarians give up their Bulgarian citizenship?
Знаете ли, че според ООН, България е страната с най-бързо свиващо се население в света? Информирани ли сте, че България е с трето най-високо ниво на смъртност в света според ЦРУ? Наясно ли сте, че повече българи работят извън граница, отколкото в България? Осведомени ли сте, че българите масово сменят гражданството си?
Criminal corporate raiding and legal nihilism are concepts coined to reflect Russian reality. Yet, the illegal takeover of private businesses and selective prosecution are common in some EU member states like Bulgaria, too. Of course, Bulgaria, which is currently presiding the Council of the EU, isn’t the average newcomer. In contrast to other former-communist countries in Eastern Europe which made their way to the EU, Bulgaria didn’t face a revolution. The Bulgarian communist regime fell under the pressure of its own weight – one wing of the omnipotent Communist Party trumped another. And this made all the difference.
Един от четирите приоритета на българското председателство на Съвета на ЕС, което започна през януари 2018 г., е бъдещето на Европа и младите хора. Парадоксално е, обаче, че България по-скоро има опит в това да мотивира младите хора да търсят бъдеще другаде и да не се завръщат у дома.
One of the four priorities of the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU which started in January 2018 is the future of Europe and young people. Paradoxically, Bulgaria has experience in motivating young people to seek a future elsewhere and to never return home.
In December 2017, shortly before the Bulgarian government officially announced its priorities for its Presidency of the Council of the EU, I published a blog post entitled ‘The Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU: The Emperor Has No Clothes.’ I explained why it is troublesome that a state which repeatedly violates EU law and struggles with corruption would set the agenda of the Council and why it has no capacity to lead in any of the areas it chose to focus on during the Presidency.
Personal Blog of Dr. Radosveta Vassileva 