Europeans but not quite?

Four years after Bulgaria joined the European Union as a full member, as little as 25 per cent of Bulgarians have the self-perception of being real Europeans, data from a sociological survey of ASSA-M indicates. Or in other words, too many people in Bulgaria continue to perceive themselves as outsiders of the large European family. Why is that so?

As brilliant British politician Winston Churchill said, “Europe ends where the tripe soup starts being part of the menu”. Saying this, Churchill, one of the main strategists of post-war Europe, has in mind several Balkan countries, including Bulgaria, situated at the crossroads between the East and the West. Today, almost 60 years later, the influence of the Orient with its exotic landscapes and picturesque chaos is more and more easily felt in the streets of large Bulgarian cities. The old-time narrow pubs selling tripe soup and smelling of garlic have been replaced by modern restaurants and fast-food chains, luxury hotels, glamorous shopping centres, and office buildings. Bulgaria has long become part of the increasingly globalization of the modern world. Yet, have we really become part of United Europe and do we share its values?

Nobody in Bulgaria is questioning the European belonging of this country. This is an undoubted fact, regarding not only its geographical location. It suffices to take a closer look at historical books to see plenty of examples and evidence of Bulgaria’s huge contribution to the European civilization. Children in Bulgaria will readily tell you that Bulgaria is one of the most ancient countries in Europe with more than 1,300 years of history and that in the past the country spanned on three seas.
There is however also the reverse side of the medal. And it is that Bulgarians are extremely proud of their history but not with their insecure and difficult present. That is why they dream of the future, and most young people see their future lives abroad. The European self-awareness of Bulgarians has been to a large extent determined by their standard of living and quality of life that are much worse than those in the majority of EU countries, at least for the time being.
Nevertheless, not until long ago, Bulgarians had much higher European self-perception. For example in 2007, immediately following Bulgaria’s accession to the EU, the national self-esteem of Bulgarians underwent a serious boost, and people started hoping that things were taking a turn for the better. Reality, however, did not meet the expectations of the majority.
Today, four years after Bulgaria became a EU member sates, crime, corruption and low incomes are still the main issues on the agenda.
“Where does Bulgaria begin? On the point where asphalted roads in Europe end”, comments a frustrated Face-book user, referring to Bulgaria’s extremely bad road infrastructure and other everyday problems. The problem lies not only in the low incomes and the lack of prospects that, during an economic recession, make many Bulgarians feel like outsiders not only in Europe, but in their own country, as well. The chronic scepticism and the tendency of feeling envy for the more prospering European nations make Bulgarians passive and gloomy, qualities that in no way help them solve their problems. Another face-book user has written: “Bulgaria has no civil society. Everyone thinks that someone else has to do their job. Young people emigrate because they want to become true Europeans, and not to work for Bulgarian employers with backward thinking”.
However, it turns out that Europeans also have what to learn from us, and this is our incredible skill of surviving at all costs, under any circumstances and in any type of situations, without losing our inexhaustible vitality and sense of humour.