[size=75:21ntt3mg]novinite 21 December 2009


Bulgarians Lukewarm about EU Benefits

Three years after Bulgaria's accession to the European Union, a whopping forty percent of its people say entry into the European family has made no difference, a survey shows.

European Union membership is widely associated in Bulgaria with high living standards, order and safety, rules of law and free travels, but the majority say these benefits are concentrated primarily in the capital Sofia, according to АSSA-М polling agency.

The survey approached 1180 respondents, aged from 18 to 60.

The respondents singled out high prices, inflation, crime, prostitution, drugs, restrictions and limitations among the drawbacks of EU accession, apparently blaming the bloc for failing to cure the country's ills from the last two decades.

The survey attributes the pessimistic mood among Bulgarians partly to the global economic crisis, which is described by more than half of the respondents as “critical”. A total of 32% of the Bulgarians say the times are tough, but not that much so, while another 8% say the crisis is a piece of fiction. Those who say the crisis does not exist account for 4%.

I have seen this story with nearly all the countries that joined the EU but I think it takes time for the benefits to get through

sarah

what the bulgarians dont have is logic and patience they want some change but are scared stiff it will be effecting there way of life also they expect to much to soon God helps them that helps themselves there whole attitude is take ,take and more take I get very exasperated with them after the mess of the lasts two decades what do thet expect the day of miracles is long gone june nan