The history of Bulgaria. Modern Bulgaria. Lesson thirteen.

The political coup in Bulgaria was organised by Bulgarian ministers with the support of the Soviet Union and was not accompanied by bloodshed: the country’s former leader was given profound thanks and asked to vacate his position, which was immediately taken by another communist figure.

The changes, however, provoked popular discontent and demonstrations began. Before long the communist government was replaced by a democratic one. In 1990 the country adopted a new Constitution.

As in other Eastern European countries, the political changes in Bulgaria took place against the background of a protracted economic crisis. The old economic ties had been destroyed, and new ones had not yet been created. Unemployment appeared in the country, enterprises closed and the situation worsened. The transition to a market economy proved fairly painful, although Bulgaria was in a better position than, say, neighbouring Romania.

The European Union

It became clear fairly quickly that it was advantageous for Bulgaria to join forces with larger and stronger powers, as it had once done with the USSR. Year after year Bulgaria’s rulers concluded various agreements with European countries on mutual assistance and cooperation in different fields.

In 2004 the country joined NATO. At the same time Bulgaria’s leaders were conducting negotiations on the country’s admission to the European Union. And in 2007 this goal was achieved — Bulgaria became a member of the EU.

It will be for future historians to assess how successful this step was. One way or another, in order to join the European Union Bulgaria carried out a number of reforms that are assessed differently by contemporaries. Some say that EU membership harmed Bulgarian industry. In addition, the country’s population is constantly decreasing because of the migration of young people to other EU countries. Others note that thanks to European money it became possible in Bulgaria to implement many programmes for the development of entrepreneurship, many monuments were restored, nature reserves were rehabilitated, roads were transformed and towns were revived.

The Historical Museum in Kardzhali

The Sveshtari Tomb: the final resting place of a Thracian ruler

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