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Simeon Mitropolitski is a Canadian analyst, of Bulgarian origin, and a former syndicated columnist with the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA). He is the author of several hundred articles dealing with hot political and economic topics, both national and international.

He was part of the first group of Bulgarian intellectuals and students that began the opposition movement that finally put an end to the communist regime in this country in 1989, and in 1996-1997 participated in international observation teams during the elections in several Balkan countries - Romania, Albania and Bulgaria.

In 2002 Simeon and his family moved from Bulgaria to Canada where they live now in Montreal, province of Quebec. Simeon is a Master of Political Science from McGill University and a B.A. of Political Science and History.

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• Bulgaria 2000
  
• Bulgaria 2000, 2
  
• Bulgaria 2000, 3
  
• Bulgaria 2001
  
• Bulgaria 2001, 2
  
• Bulgaria 2003
  
• Bulgaria 2004
  
• Bulgaria 2005
  
• Bulgaria 2005, 2
  
• Bulgaria 2008
  

The European Union suspended part of the funding for Bulgaria over allegations of not meeting the EU norms in judicial reform and fight against corruption. Several hundred million euros within different economic programs won't go to their final destinations in Bulgaria as far as the country doesn't show some significant improvement in these key areas. Having said this, the main reason why Bulgaria opted for integrating the EU, its financial generosity, is about to evaporate, as Brussels becomes more demanding and stingier in its relations toward its newest members, Bulgaria being one among them.

Choosing Bulgaria as the main target may have been arbitrary to some degree, but it nevertheless well reflects the growing malaise in Brussels over the lack of progress in exporting some European norms to its newest members. It's a bad time for most West European economies, and accordingly, it's a bad time for many West European governments struggling to make right choices between internal development and satisfying the EU-overgrowing appetites for more money. Too many relatively poor European nations are on the waiting list for fresh money, so Brussels is increasingly reluctant to close the eyes on irregularities, especially on the scale they are known to exist in Bulgaria.

More punishments on a different scale are likely to be imposed regarding one or another country, not necessarily a new EU member. The entire enterprise of enlargement, however, may be put at risk, as the candidates face new realities of less generous and more demanding Union. Bulgaria may look as a 'bad child' compared to some nations with long administrative traditions of transparence, but it doesn't represent an exception in terms of corruption within its geographic region. Not all good things go together, and the fact that the country is democratically ruled, as most countries in the Balkans, doesn't automatically make them less corrupt and more business-friendly.

Bulgaria country profile:

• Area: 110,910 sq km
• Population: 7.26 (July 2008 est.)
• Population growth rate: -0.81% (2008 est.)
• Life expectancy at birth: 72.83 years
• GDP per capita: purchasing power parity $11,300 (2007 est.)
• GDP real growth rate: 6.2% (2007 est.)
• Population below poverty line: 14.1% (2003)
• Internet users: 1.8 million (2007)

(Source: CIA World Factbook 2008) EU-Bulgaria relations:

• 1988 - Establishments of diplomatic relations.
• 1993 - European agreement on association is signed, to take effect in 1995.
• 1995 - Bulgaria submits its application for EU membership.
• 1997 - Preliminary negotiations for membership are launched.
• 1999 - European Commission recommends that formal negotiations for membership be opened; they start in 2000.
• 2004 - Formal negotiations are concluded.
• 2005 - European Parliament gives its overwhelming support to Bulgaria's EU bid. Signing of the EU Accession Treaty.
• 2007 - Bulgaria becomes EU member.
• 2008 - EU suspends part of the funding for Bulgaria over allegations of not meeting the EU norms in judicial reform and fight against corruption.

(Source: EurActiv.com)

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