Abstract
The integration of Bulgaria into the European Union made great progress when Bulgaria officially became a member of the European Union (EU) on 1 January 2007. This progress, which means the strengthening of economic, social, cultural, and political ties with the EU, has led to different reactions in Bulgarian political parties and public opinion. These reactions, based on ‘’Pro-Europeanism’’ and ‘’Euroscepticism’’, have shaped the relations between Bulgaria and the European Union. Bulgarian political parties such as GERB, ATAKA, DPS, etc. played an important role in shaping these relations. The concepts of “Pro-Europeanism” and “Euroscepticism” are also one of the most discussed topics in the literature. According to “ Pro-Europeanism“, the political, cultural, social, and economic integration of the EU is a priority, and the EU’s policies try to develop the member states in every respect with its cooperative and conciliatory identity. In the context of constructing the “European” identity, pro-Europeanism refers to the common values, common norms, and historical heritage that are important for the EU. According to ‘‘Euroscepticism’’, which approaches the EU and EU policies with suspicion, the EU’s attempt to exert pressure on issues such as politics, foreign policy, and economics means the overcoming of the sovereignty of a nation-state and the loss of authority. The concept of “Euroscepticism” is examined from many perspectives conceptually, and it appears as a multidimensional concept. In the context of Bulgaria, Euroscepticism is also exposed to Russian influence. Euroscepticism emphasizes the concepts of sovereignty and authority, while pro-Europeanism emphasizes the concepts of integration and cooperation. Within the framework of the international conjuncture, the European Debt Crisis of 2009 increased Eurosceptic populist rhetoric in Bulgarian domestic politics and triggered social events. This, in turn, affected the dynamics and course of Bulgaria-EU relations. This study aims to explain the transformation of Bulgaria’s increasing relations with the European Union, which started with its membership in the EU in 2007, in the period up to the end of 2024. While explaining this transformation, the European Parliament elections of 2007, 2009, 2014, 2019, and 2024 will be used, and through the events affecting EU and world politics (European Debt Crisis of 2009, Annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014, Russia-Ukraine War in 2022, etc.), the increasing or decreasing pro-Europeanism and Euroscepticism trends in Bulgaria will be examined. This study, which will be about the relations between Bulgaria and the EU from 2007 to 2024, will examine the relations in three periods. The first period will cover the years 2007-2012; the second period will cover the years 2013-2018; and the third period will cover the years 2019-2024. The actors to be examined in this study will include, in particular, the Bulgarian governments and political parties. The discourses of Bulgarian governments and political parties and their approach to the EU will be given priority.