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Political system:

parliamentary republic

EU member country since:

1 January 2007

Seats in the European Parliament:

17

Currency:

Bulgarian lev BGN

Schengen area member?: :

No, Bulgaria is not a member of the Schengen Area.

Presidency of the Council:

Bulgaria will hold the revolving presidency of the Council of the EU for the first time in 2018.

Located in the southeast part of the Balkans, Bulgaria has a diverse topography. The north of the country is dominated by the vast lowlands of
the Danube Plain with the river Danube defining the border with neighbouring Romania. The south of the country, by contrast, is dominated
by highlands and elevated plains while, in the east, the Black Sea coast attracts tourists all year round.
The most important sectors of Bulgarias economy in 2015 were industry (23.0 %), wholesale and retail trade, transport, accommodation and
food services (21.0 %) and public administration, defence, education, human health and social work activities (14.5 %).

Bulgarias main export partners are Germany, Italy and Turkey, while its main import partners are Germany, Russia and Italy.

Read more

Facts & Figures about Bulgaria in relation to other EU countries

Statistical profile of Bulgaria

Government of Bulgaria

Bulgaria in the EU
European Parliament
There are 17 members of the European Parliament from Bulgaria. Find out who these MEPs are.

European Parliament office in Bulgaria BG

Council of the EU
In the Council of the EU, national ministers meet regularly to adopt EU laws and coordinate policies. Council meetings are regularly attended
by representatives from the Bulgarian government, depending on the policy area being addressed.

Presidency of the Council of the EU

The Council of the EU doesn't have a permanent, single-person president (like e.g. the Commission or Parliament). Instead, its work is led by
the country holding the Council presidency, which rotates every 6 months.

During these 6 months, ministers from that country's government chair and help determine the agenda of Council meetings in each policy area,
and facilitate dialogue with the other EU institutions.

Dates of Bulgarian presidencies:

Jan-June 2018

More on the current presidency of the Council of the EU

European Commission
Vice-President Georgieva's resignation took effect as of 31 December 2016. Her portfolio is now under the responsibility of Commissioner
Oettinger.

The Commission is represented in each EU country by a local office, called a "representation".

Commission representation in Bulgaria Search for available translations of the preceding link BG
 European Economic & Social Committee
Bulgaria has 12 representatives on the European Economic and Social Committee. This advisory body representing employers, workers and
other interest groups is consulted on proposed laws, to get a better idea of the possible changes to work and social situations in member
countries.

Committee of the Regions

Bulgaria has 12 representatives on the Committee of the Regions, the EU's assembly of regional and local representatives. This advisory body
is consulted on proposed laws, to ensure these laws take account of the perspective from each region of the EU.

Permanent representation to the EU

Bulgaria also communicates with the EU institutions through its permanent representation in
Brussels. As Bulgaria's "embassy to the EU", its main task is to ensure that the country's
interests and policies are pursued as effectively as possible in the EU.
Budgets and Funding
How much does Bulgaria contribute and receive?
Member countries' financial contributions to the EU budget are shared fairly, according to means. The larger your
country's economy, the more it pays and vice versa. The EU budget doesn't aim to redistribute wealth, but rather to
focus on the needs of all Europeans as a whole.

Breakdown of Bulgarias finances with the EU in 2015:

Total EU spending in Bulgaria: 2.730 billion

Total EU spending as % of Bulgarias gross national income (GNI): 6.38 %

Total Bulgarian contribution to the EU budget: 0.424 billion

Bulgarian contribution to the EU budget as % of its GNI: 0.99 %

More figures on the EU budget, revenue and spending:

EU budget in Bulgaria

Money & the EU

EU spending & revenue

EU-funded projects in Bulgaria

The money paid into the EU budget by Bulgaria helps fund programmes and projects in all EU
countries - like building roads, subsidising researchers and protecting the environment.

Find out more about how Bulgaria benefits from EU funding

Practical information
Tax system in Bulgaria
European jobs portal (EURES)
 Rights of EU citizens travelling in Europe
Life & business in the EU
Facts about Bulgaria for kids
Tourist information - Bulgaria
Bulgaria is one of the few exotic nations of Europe, due to the fact that it boasts sublime beaches,
lovely churches, winter sport opportunities and great hiking, to name a few. Although it has
traditionally not been regularly visited by Westerners compared to other European nations, this is
beginning to change. It is a beautiful place, with a wide range of activities for a traveller to do.

Climate[edit]
Continental in the interior; cold, damp winters with snow in the higher elevations; hot and humid
summers.

Temperate on the coast; mild autumns, cool winters, mild springs and warm and breezy
summers.

Terrain[edit]
Mostly mountains with lowlands in north and southeast; highest point : Musala 2,925 m

History[edit]
Bulgaria's territory was inhabited by the Thracians (famed for their gold-making, fierce warriors,
and the gladiator Spartacus) for thousands of years before being conquered by the Macedonian
Empire. Thrace was subsequently incorporated into the Roman Empire and later the Byzantine
(East Roman) Empire. The first official data of Bulgaria is in the late 7th century (681 A.D.), when
Slavic and Bulgar tribes entered the Byzantine provinces of Thrace, Moesia, and Macedonia and
together formed the Bulgarian Empire.

In succeeding centuries, the Bulgarian and Byzantine Empires dominated South-East

Europe, but by the end of the 14th century, the region was overrun by the Ottoman Turks.
Bulgaria was subjugated by the Ottoman Empire for five centuries. Bulgaria regained its
independence in 1878 largely due to the intervention of the Russian Empire, who clipped
the wings of the declining Ottoman Empire in Bulgaria and elsewhere. It installed a minor
German prince (the nephew of the Russian tsar) as a ruler of the newly independent
country. The country's iconic heroes are all freedom fighters against the Ottomans: whether
Rakovsky (), who mixed revolution and literature, Vassil Levski ( ) -
the Apostle of Freedom, or Hristo Botev ( ), poet and fighter.

After a series of bloody and brutal Balkan Wars in which Bulgaria failed to annex Vardar
Macedonia (which had a population that it considered to be ethnic Bulgarian), Bulgaria
had the further misfortune to be an ally to the losing side in both World Wars. In the
second half of World War II, it was occupied by the Soviet Union and became a
People's Republic in 1946. Communist domination was brought to a swift, but (for many
people) illusory end in 1989 with the fall of the Berlin Wall. Although Bulgaria went on
to hold its first multi-party election since World War II, essentially socialist policies
were pursued until hyperinflation and economic meltdown drove the old guard
out of power in 1997. Today, reforms and democratization allowed Bulgaria to
become a member of both NATO and the European Union.
During Communist times, the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast was a favorite
destination for travellers behind the Iron Curtain, hence the name "Red
Riviera". Now, increasing numbers of western Europeans travel throughout the
country, and many have bought vacation houses near the Black Sea or in
picturesque villages. During the 2008 global financial crisis, Bulgaria marked a
decline in its economy of 5.5% in 2009, but quickly restored positive growth
levels, in contrast to other Balkan countries. That said, the Bulgarians have the distinction
of boasting the strongest and most stable currency in Eastern Europe.

Despite significant economic advances, the country is the poorest member of the European Union.
Corruption, a weak judicial system and the presence of organized crime remain significant long-term
challenges for the country's development and economic prospects.

Language[edit]
The Bulgarian language is related to Serbian, Russian and other Slavic languages, but contains
many international words. Bulgarians consider the Macedonian language to be a dialect of
Bulgarian. This is politically controversial, but it is true that Bulgarian and Macedonian are very
close to each other and a speaker of one language can mostly understand the other. Bulgarians
use the Cyrillic alphabet. This can make the task of getting around the country somewhat difficult
if you aren't familiar with this alphabet, as most signs are written in it. However, getting
acquainted with the alphabet isn't very difficult and may save you a lot of trouble, especially as
many common words are homophones of English or French words.

Also, as Bulgarian education emphasizes foreign language studies, especially English

language, it wouldn't be a problem to talk and find information in English in bigger cities.
It's best to turn to the young population for a direction or advice in English. Older
Bulgarians who grew up in the Communist era are more likely to speak Russian.

See the Bulgarian phrasebook for a pronunciation guide, while this external page [7] has a
different take and examples of the confusing but rarely used cursive forms.

Holidays[edit]
Baba Marta (Martenitsa/ ) (Grandma Marta), March 1. A very old Bulgarian holiday.
People give each martenitsa (), a type of white-red yarn, as a symbol of health. (this is
not a public holiday)

March 3 ( ). The day Bulgaria celebrates its liberation from 500 years of Ottoman
domination (1393-1878).

20th of April - 20 April 1876 is the official start day the greatest uprising of the Bulgarian people
against the Ottoman rule.

Gergiovden (), May 6. St. George and official holiday of the Bulgarian rmy.