Bulgaria Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Bulgaria - Essay Example The President of the republic is the head of state and the supreme commander-in-chief. The Prime Minister on the other hand heads and bears responsibility for the overall policy of the government. After a period of political instability in the mid 1990s, there has been a gradual stabilization since 2001 with the election of Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, son of Tsar Boris III, and heir of the royal family, as prime-minister (Library of Congress, 2005). The focus of the governmental power of several consecutive governments has been the EU accession process requiring substantial reforms in the legislative, judiciary, administrative and other spheres of economy. In 2004 Bulgaria's population was estimated at 7,518,000 with a negative growth rate of -0.92 percent per year. About 70 percent of the population is urban; the capital Sofia has population of 1.1 million. Since 1990s migration to Western European countries has increased significantly, with estimated 200,000 residents leaving the country between 1992 and 2002. This movement is expected to accelerate as Bulgaria becomes an EU member state. Concerning ethnic groups, approximately 83 percent are Bulgarians, 9 percent Turks, and 5 percent Roma. In the 1980s during the communist period there was a campaign to assimilate the Turkish population. Today the only ethnic issue is discrimination of Roma who have even lower living standards and are generally regarded as second-class citizens (Library of Congress, 2005). By 1990s during the communist period Bulgaria had strong industrial and agricultural productivity and export within the Soviet and ex-communist countries. Political concussions and the fall of the communist regime resulted in economic shocks, Bulgaria lost many of its markets, because of increased competition and decreased political backup. Productivity levels dropped, many industrial factories were destroyed and plundered, agricultural structures were abolished. This, combined with instability in the political situation, led to a severe economic crisis in 1997-1998. Economical recovery involved the establishment of a currency board and structural changes in all sectors of economy (Library of Congress, 2005). Since that period the country has a slowly developing economy, with lowering inflation rates, improving investor confidence, tax-reducing policies etc. Today the country is facing one of the greatest challenges in its recent economic development - forthcoming EU accession in 1997. EU accession process is as much a political issue, as it is an economical issue. Ever since 1993, when the European Union announced its expansion policy towards Central and Eastern Europe, consecutive governments have adjusted their national programs with view to Bulgaria's prospective accession in the EU. Now, that the principal date of the accession was determined months ago, the government has to overcome many problematic areas, addressed by the EU Commission as areas of specific concern that have to be dealt with beforehand, or else the accession can be postponed. And while the Currency Board pegging the Bulgarian currency (leva) to the euro has contributed to economic stability, increased domestic consumption,