BULGARIA
PROFILE
Geography
Area:
110,910 sq. km. (slightly larger than Tennessee).
Major
cities: Capital--Sofia 1.3 million. Others--Plovdiv 379,493; Varna 352,674.
Terrain:
Bulgaria is located in South Central Europe. The terrain is varied, containing
large mountainous areas, fertile valleys, plains and a coastline along the
Black Sea.
Climate:
Continental--mild summers and cold, snowy winters.
People
Population
(February 2011 census): 7,364,570.
Population
growth rate (February 2011 census): -0.7%.
Ethnic
groups (February 2011 census): Bulgarian 84.8%, Turkish 8.8%, Roma 4.9%, other
0.7% (including Macedonian, Armenian, Tatar), and unstated 0.8%.
Religions
(February 2011 census): Bulgarian Orthodox 76%, Muslim 10%, Roman Catholic
0.7%, Protestant 0.9%, others.
Language:
Bulgarian 85.2%, Turkish 9.1%, and Romani 4.2%.
Health:
Life expectancy (2009 est.)--male 69.48 years; female 76.91 years. Infant
mortality rate (2009 est.)--17.87 deaths/1,000 live births.
Work
force (2011 census): 3.3 million. By occupation (2007 est.)--agriculture 7.5%;
industry 35.5%, services 57%.
Government
Type:
Parliamentary democracy.
Constitution:
Adopted July 12, 1991.
Independence:
1908 (from the Ottoman Empire).
Branches:
Executive--president (chief of state), prime minister (head of government),
Council of Ministers (cabinet). Legislative--unicameral National Assembly or
Narodno Subranie--240 seats. Members are elected through a mixed electoral
system for 4-year terms. Judicial--three-tiered system.
Administrative
divisions: 28 provinces including the capital region of Sofia.
Suffrage:
Universal at 18 years of age.
Political
parties: Major political parties--Citizens for the European Development of
Bulgaria (GERB); Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP); Movement for Rights and Freedoms
(MRF); Attack Political Party (ATAKA); Blue Coalition (formed by Union of
Democratic Forces--UDF, Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria--DSB, and a few more
center-right parties). Parties and leaders--Attack Political Party or ATAKA
[Volen SIDEROV]; Blue Coalition (a coalition of center-right parties dominated
by UDF and DSB); Bulgarian Socialist Party or BSP [Sergei STANISHEV]; Citizens
for the European Development of Bulgaria or GERB [Boyko Borissov]; Coalition
for Bulgaria or CfB (coalition of parties dominated by BSP) [Sergei STANISHEV];
Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria or DSB [Ivan KOSTOV]; Internal Macedonian
Revolutionary Organization or IMRO [Krasimir KARAKACHANOV]; Movement for Rights
and Freedoms or MRF [Ahmed DOGAN]; National Movement for Stability and Progress
or NDSV [Hristina Hristova] (formerly National Movement Simeon II or NMS2);
Order, Law, Justice or RZS [Yane YANEV]; Union of Democratic Forces or UDF
[Martin DIMITROV]; Union of Free Democrats or UFD [Stefan SOFIYANSKI]. Results
from the July 5, 2009 general election were as follows (voter turnout 60.20%;
percentage of vote by party)--GERB 39.72%, BSP 17.70%, MRF 14.45%, ATAKA 9.36%,
Blue Coalition 6.76%, RZS 4.13%, other 7.88%. As of November 2011, seat
allocation was as follows--GERB 117, BSP 40, MRF 35, ATAKA 15, Blue Coalition
14, independent 19.
Economy
GDP
(2010): $47.9 billion.
Real
GDP growth: 0.2% (2010); -5.0% (2009); 6.2% (2008); 6.4% (2007); 6.5% (2006);
6.2% (2005); 6.6% (2004); 4.3% (2003).
Per
capita GDP (2010): $6,522.
Inflation
rate: 4.4% (2010); 1.6% (2009); 7.2% (2008); 11.6% (2007), 6.1% (2006); 7.4%
(2005); 4.0% (2004); 5.6% (2003).
Unemployment
rate: 9.2% (2010); 9.1% (2009); 6.3% (2008); 6.9% (2007); 9.1% (2006); 10.7%
(2005); 12.2% (2004); 14.3% (2003).
Natural
resources: Bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal, and timber.
Official
exchange rate: Lev per $1 U.S. = 1.47 (2010); 1.36 (2009); 1.39 (2008); 1.33
(2007); 1.49 (2006); 1.66 (2005); 1.44 (2004).
GEOGRAPHY
AND PEOPLE
Bulgaria
shares a border with Turkey and Greece to the south, Macedonia and Serbia to
the west, Romania to the north, and the Black Sea to the east. The capital,
Sofia, lies in the western region of the country. Ethnic groups include
Bulgarian, Turkish, Roma, and others. The official language is Bulgarian.
HISTORICAL
HIGHLIGHTS
Ancient
Thrace was partially located on the territory of modern Bulgaria, and Thracian
culture provides a wealth of archeological sites within Bulgaria. In the second
century A.D., the Bulgars came to Europe from their old homeland, the Kingdom
of Balhara situated in the Mount Imeon area (present Hindu Kush in northern
Afghanistan).
The
first Bulgarian state was established in 635 A.D., located along the north
coast of the Black Sea. In 681 A.D. the first Bulgarian state on the territory
of modern Bulgaria was founded. This state consisted of a mixture of Slav and
Bulgar peoples. In 864, Bulgaria adopted Orthodox Christianity. The First
Bulgarian Kingdom, considered to be Bulgaria's "Golden Age," emerged
under Tsar Simeon I in 893-927. During this time, Bulgarian art and literature
flourished. Followers of Saints Cyril and Methodius are believed to have
developed the Cyrillic alphabet in Bulgaria in the early 10th century.
In
1018, the Byzantine Empire conquered Bulgaria. In 1185 the Bulgarians broke
free of Byzantine rule and established the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. A number
of Bulgaria's famous monasteries were founded during this period. Following the
1242 Mongol invasion, this kingdom began losing territory to its neighbors.
Ottoman expansion into the Balkan Peninsula eventually reached Bulgaria, and in
1396 Bulgaria became part of the Ottoman Empire. During the 5 centuries of
Ottoman rule, most of Bulgaria's indigenous cultural centers were destroyed.
Several Bulgarian uprisings were brutally suppressed and a great many people
fled abroad. The April uprising of 1876, the Russo-Turkish War (1877-78), and
the Treaty of San Stefano (March 3, 1878, the date of Bulgaria's national
holiday), began Bulgaria's liberation from the Ottoman Empire, but complete
independence was not recognized until 1908.
During
the first half of the 20th century, Bulgaria was marred by social and political
unrest. Bulgaria participated in the First and Second Balkan Wars (1912 and
1913) and sided with the Central Powers, and later the Axis Powers, during the
two World Wars. Although allied with Germany during World War II, Bulgaria
never declared war on the Soviet Union and never sent troops abroad to fight
under Nazi command. Near the end of World War II, Bulgaria changed sides to
fight the German army all the way to Austria; 30,000 Bulgarian troops were
killed.
Bulgaria
had a mixed record during World War II, when it was allied with Nazi Germany
under a March 1941 agreement. The Law for the Protection of the Nation, enacted
in January 1941, divested Jews of property, livelihood, civil rights, and
personal security. Despite a February 1943 agreement requiring Bulgaria to
transfer Bulgaria's Jews to Nazi extermination camps in Poland, Bulgaria did
not actually deport any Bulgarian Jews or Roma to Nazi concentration camps.
Under that agreement, however, Bulgarian forces transferred approximately
11,000 Jews from Bulgarian-occupied territory (Thrace and Macedonia) to Nazi
concentration camps. In June 1943 the government "re-settled" Sofia's
25,000 Jews to rural areas. Tsar Boris--supported by the parliament (especially
its prominent Deputy Speaker, Dimitar Peshev), the Orthodox Church, and the
general public--aided the Jewish community and helped its 50,000 members
survive the war, despite harsh conditions. The Bulgarian Jews remained safe,
and when they were permitted to emigrate to Israel after the war, most of them
did.
King
Simeon II assumed control of the throne in 1943 at the age of six following the
death of his father Boris III. With the entry of Soviet troops into Bulgaria in
September 1944 and the defeat of the Axis Powers in World War II, communism
emerged as the dominant political force within Bulgaria. Simeon, who later
returned and served as Prime Minister, was forced into exile in 1946 and
resided primarily in Madrid, Spain. By 1946, Bulgaria had become a satellite of
the Soviet Union, remaining so throughout the Cold War period. Todor Zhivkov,
the head of the Bulgarian Communist Party, ruled the country for much of this
period. During his 27 years as leader of Bulgaria, democratic opposition was
crushed; agriculture was collectivized and industry was nationalized; and the
Bulgarian Orthodox Church fell under the control of the state.
In
1989, Zhivkov was removed from power, and democratic change began. The first
multi-party elections since World War II were held in 1990. The ruling
communist party changed its name to the Bulgarian Socialist Party and won the
June 1990 elections. Following a period of social unrest and passage of a new
constitution, the first fully democratic parliamentary elections were held in
1991 in which the Union of Democratic Forces won. The first direct presidential
elections were held the next year.
As
Bulgaria emerged from the throes of communism, it experienced a period of
social and economic turmoil that culminated in a severe economic and financial
crisis in late 1996-early 1997. With the help of the international community,
former Prime Minister Ivan Kostov initiated a series of reforms in 1997 that
helped stabilize the country's economy and put Bulgaria on the Euro-Atlantic
path. Elections in 2001 ushered in a new government and president. In July
2001, Bulgaria's ex-king Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha became the first former
monarch in post-communist Eastern Europe to become Prime Minister. His
government continued to pursue Euro-Atlantic integration, democratic reform,
and development of a market economy. Bulgaria became a member of the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization on March 29, 2004, and a member of the European
Union (EU) on January 1, 2007.
Following
June 2005 general elections, Sergei Stanishev of the Bulgarian Socialist Party
became the new Prime Minister of a coalition government on August 16, 2005. In
October 2006, Georgi Parvanov, the former leader of the Bulgarian Socialist
Party, became the first Bulgarian president to win re-election. Despite his
limited constitutional powers, President Parvanov played an important role in
helping to ensure a consistent, pro-Western foreign policy. The Stanishev
government continued Bulgaria's integration with the Euro-Atlantic world and
its close partnership with the United States. Bulgaria has attracted large
amounts of American and European investment, and is an active partner in
coalition operations in Afghanistan as well as in UN-led peacekeeping
operations in the Balkans.
In
the July 2009 general elections, Bulgarian voters punished the Socialist-led
government for corruption scandals and frozen EU funds. Citizens for the
European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) took 116 of 240 seats in parliament,
and its leader (and former Sofia mayor) Boyko Borissov became the Prime
Minister. Borissov formed a minority government supported by the Blue
Coalition, ATAKA, and Order, Law, Justice (RZS), but in the course of its
second year in office, these parties gradually withdrew their support for GERB.
The government's priorities include: promoting economic stability, unblocking
the frozen EU funds, and fighting corruption.
GOVERNMENT
AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS
Bulgaria
is a parliamentary republic. The unicameral National Assembly, or Narodno
Subranie, consists of 240 deputies who are elected for 4-year terms through a
mixed electoral system: 209 members of parliament (MPs) elected according to
the classic proportional representation system (voters vote for fixed,
rank-ordered party lists for each of the 31 electoral districts, with a
different list for each district), and 31 majority MPs elected individually
under the majority representation system in each and every district (the
winning candidate receives a plurality of the votes in the region). Parliament
selects and dismisses government ministers, including the prime minister,
exercises control over the government, and sanctions deployment of troops
abroad. It is responsible for enactment of laws, approval of the budget,
scheduling of presidential elections, declaration of war, and ratification of
international treaties and agreements.
A
1-month official campaign period precedes general elections. The voting age is
18. Preliminary results are available within hours of poll closings. Parties
and coalitions must win a minimum 4% of the national vote to enter parliament.
Seats are then allocated to the parties in proportion to the distribution of
votes in their respective electoral districts. Votes belonging to parties not
passing the 4% threshold are distributed to other parties using the method of
the smallest remainder. The lists of newly elected members of parliament are
announced 7 days after the elections. The president must convene the new
parliament within 1 month after the elections, and calls upon parties, coalitions,
or political groups to nominate a prime minister and form a government. If the
three largest parties, coalitions, or political groups fail to nominate a prime
minister, the president can dissolve parliament and schedule new elections. In
recent years, it has taken approximately a month for the new government to
form.
In
the general election held in Bulgaria July 5, 2009, turnout was 60.20%. Results
were as follows: GERB 39.7%, BSP 17.7%, MRF 14.4%, ATAKA 9.4%, Blue Coalition
6.8%, RZS 4.1%, other 7.9%; seats by party were GERB 116, BSP 40, MRF 38, ATAKA
21, Blue Coalition 15, RZS 10.
Results
of the June 7, 2009 European Parliament elections were GERB 24.36%, 5 seats;
BSP 18.5%, 4 seats; DPS 14.14%, 3 seats; ATAKA 11.96%, 2 seats; NDSV 7.96%, 2
seats; Blue Coalition (SDS-DSB and other right-wing parties) 7.95%, 1 seat
(turnout: 37.49%).
The
president of Bulgaria is directly elected for a 5-year term with the right to
one re-election. The president serves as the head of state and commander in
chief of the armed forces. The president is the head of the Consultative
Council for National Security and, while unable to initiate legislation, can
return a bill for further debate. Parliament can overturn the president's veto
with a simple majority vote. Bulgarian Socialist Party candidate Georgi
Parvanov won the November 2001 presidential election and was re-elected in
October 2006 as an independent candidate in a runoff against Volen Siderov, the
leader of extreme nationalist ATAKA Party.
Presidential
and local elections were held in October 2011. Turnout for the first round was
51.8%; the top three vote winners were Rosen Plevneliev (GERB) 40.11%, Ivailo
Kalfin (BSP) 29%, and Meglena Kuneva (independent) 14%. Plevneliev defeated
Kalfin 52.6% to 47.4% in the runoff and took office in January 2012.
The
prime minister is head of the Council of Ministers, which is the primary
component of the executive branch. In addition to the prime minister and deputy
prime ministers, the Council is composed of ministers who head the various
agencies within the government and usually come from the majority/ruling party
or from a member party of the ruling coalition in parliament. The Council is
responsible for carrying out state policy, managing the state budget and
maintaining law and order. The Council must resign if the National Assembly
passes a vote of no confidence in the Council or prime minister.
The
Bulgarian judicial system became an independent branch of the government
following passage of the 1991 constitution. Reform within this branch has been
slow, with political influence, widespread corruption, and long delays
continuously plaguing the system. In 1994, the National Assembly passed the
Judicial System Act to further delineate the role of the judiciary. In 2003, Bulgaria
adopted amendments to the constitution, which aimed to improve the
effectiveness of the judicial system by limiting magistrates' irremovability
and immunity against criminal prosecution. Additional amendments to the
constitution in 2006 and 2007 further increased oversight of the judicial
system by the legislative branch. They introduced the Supreme Judicial Council
as a permanently operating supervisory body, as well as an Inspectorate
responsible for overseeing the performance of the judicial system as a whole
and its individual members. The prosecution service was given absolute
authority over all investigations, and the police received a mandate to
investigate 95% of all crimes, which reduced the role of the investigative
service.
The
trial, appellate, and cassation (highest appellate) courts comprise the three
tiers of the judicial system. Military courts (at trial and appeal level)
handle cases involving military and Ministry of Interior personnel.
Administrative courts, effective since March 2007, specialize in reviewing
appeals of government acts.
The
Supreme Administrative Court and the Supreme Court of Cassation are the highest
courts of appeal and determine the application of all laws.
The
Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) is composed of 25 members serving 5-year terms.
Those who serve on the council are experienced legal professionals and are
either appointed by the National Assembly, selected by the judicial system, or
serve on the SJC as a result of their position in government. The SJC manages
the judiciary and is responsible for appointing judges. In 2007 parliament
revised the Judicial System Act to make it compliant with the latest
constitutional amendments, which provided for the establishment of the
Inspectorate with the Supreme Judicial Council: a standing body with 11 members
who investigate complaints of magistrates' misconduct, with no right to rule on
the substance of judicial acts.
The
Constitutional Court, which is separate from the rest of the judiciary,
interprets the constitution and constitutionality of laws and treaties. Its 12
justices serve 9-year terms and are selected by the president, the National
Assembly, and the Supreme Courts.
Principal
Government Officials
President--Rosen
Plevneliev
Prime
Minister--Boyko Borissov
Deputy
Prime Minister/Minister of Finance--Simeon Dyankov
Deputy
Prime Minister/Minister of Interior--Tsvetan Tsvetanov
Minister
of Foreign Affairs--Nickolay Mladenov
Minister
of Defense--Anyu Angelov
Minister
of Economy, Energy, and Tourism--Traicho Traikov
Bulgaria's
Commissioner to the EU--Kristalina Georgieva, Commissioner for International
Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid, and Crisis Response
Bulgaria
maintains an embassy in the United States at 1621 22nd Street, NW, Washington
DC 20008 (tel. 202-387-0174; fax: 202-234-7973).
ECONOMY
Bulgaria's
economy contracted dramatically after 1989 with the collapse of the COMECON
system and the loss of the Soviet market, to which the Bulgarian economy had
been closely tied. The standard of living fell by about 40%. In addition, UN
sanctions against Yugoslavia and Iraq took a heavy toll on the Bulgarian
economy. The first signs of recovery emerged when GDP grew in 1994 for the
first time since 1988, by 1.4% and then by 2.5% in 1995. Inflation, which
surged in 1994 to 122%, fell to 32.9% in 1995. During 1996, however, the
economy collapsed due to shortsighted economic reforms and an unstable and
de-capitalized banking system.
Under
the leadership of former Prime Minister Ivan Kostov (UDF), who came to power in
1997, an ambitious set of reforms was launched, including introduction of a
currency board regime, bringing growth and stability to the Bulgarian economy.
The currency board contained inflationary pressures and the three-digit
inflation in 1997 was cut to only 1% in 1998. Following declines in GDP in both
1996 and 1997, the Bulgarian Government delivered strong, steady GDP growth in
real terms in recent years. Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg's economic team
of young, Western-educated financiers continued to implement measures that
helped sustain stable economic growth and curb unemployment. Measures
introduced by the government were targeted at reducing corporate and individual
taxes, curtailing corruption, and attracting foreign investment. The government
also restructured the country's foreign debt, revived the local stock market,
and moved ahead with long-delayed privatization of some major state monopolies.
As a result of this progress, in October 2002 the European Commission declared
Bulgaria had a "functioning market economy."
Successive
governments continued these reforms, and in 2007 the country joined the
European Union. According to the World Bank, in 2006 Bulgaria attracted the
highest levels of foreign direct investment, as a share of GDP, among Eastern
European countries. In early 2007, to attract additional foreign investment,
the Bulgarian Government lowered corporate tax rates to 10%, reportedly the
lowest rate in Europe. A flat-tax rate of 10% for personal income, in place as
of January 1, 2008, has helped to bring down domestic labor costs and reduce
the share of the "gray" economy. In response to local governments'
demand for financial independence in 2006, parliament passed fiscal
decentralization of municipalities, granting them authority over collection and
administration of some taxes, thus further enhancing local economic stability.
The
2007-2009 global financial and economic crisis erased many of the gains
attributed to conservative fiscal policies and tax reforms. After 10 years of
steady growth, Bulgaria's economy fell into recession in the fourth quarter of
2008, causing an increase in both unemployment and household debt. After years
of relatively low inflation, domestic prices, particularly of food and energy,
increased in 2010. The government was slow implementing some of its planned
anti-crisis measures, and resorted to tapping into the fiscal reserve to tackle
short-term spending problems. The government also committed itself to
strengthening control over EU funds and fighting organized crime and
corruption.
The
global financial crisis significantly reduced the flow of new investments,
which previously supported strong economic growth. Domestic consumption
remained weak, and in 2011 export growth recovery slowed, reflecting signs of recession
in Bulgaria’s major EU trading partners. Faced with tough budget decisions, the
government continues to maintain fiscal discipline and a policy of budget
deficit reduction by planning a deficit of 1.3% of GDP in 2012. In contrast to
some Euro-zone states, Bulgaria’s public finances are not overwhelmed by huge
international debt, and its level of government debt (12% as of November 2011)
remains one of the lowest within the EU.
DEFENSE
Bulgaria
became a member of NATO on March 29, 2004. Bulgaria's military is currently
undergoing an ambitious restructuring program which aims to bring the army up
to NATO standards, modernize equipment, and bring about full integration of the
civilian and armed components. In 2008, Bulgaria made the transition to an all-volunteer
force. Through FY 2010, the U.S. Government has provided approximately $143
million in foreign military financing assistance to support training and
procurement of military equipment.
Bulgaria
has had over 700 troops serving abroad in support of NATO, EU, and UN missions.
It currently has around 600 troops in Afghanistan and has maintained small
contingents in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo. It has several military
observers serving in support of United Nations missions in Liberia and Kosovo,
as well as the EU's Operation Atalanta to fight piracy off the coast of
Somalia. Bulgaria deployed a frigate to help enforce the UN arms embargo
against Libya in 2011.
There
are three Bulgarian bases identified as “joint-use facilities” (meaning the U.S.
has the right to station troops and conduct training in them) in the
U.S.-Bulgarian Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) signed April 28, 2006 by
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice: Novo Selo Training Area (including the
Aytos Storage Facility), Bezmer Air Base, and Graf Ignatievo Air Base.
FOREIGN
RELATIONS
Bulgaria
became a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization on March 29, 2004,
and a member of the European Union on January 1, 2007. It is a member of the
United Nations, and in 2002-2003 served a 2-year term as a nonpermanent member
on the UN Security Council. Bulgaria served as Chair-In-Office of the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in 2004.
The
country joined the World Trade Organization in 1996. In July 1998, it became a
full member of the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA), which called
for the reduction of tariffs by 2002 on most industrial and agricultural goods
traded between CEFTA countries. Bulgaria has initialed free trade agreements
with Turkey, Macedonia, Croatia, Lithuania, Estonia, Israel, Albania, and
Latvia.
On
September 22, 2009, UNESCO’s Executive Board nominated Bulgarian diplomat Irina
Bokova to become its next Director General; she took office in November 2009.
Bulgaria's
relationship with its neighbors has generally been good. The country has proven
to be a constructive force in the region and has played an important role in
promoting regional security. Pursuing its initiative as a partner in the
South-East European regional cooperation, Bulgaria held the
chairmanship-in-office of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP)
for the period May 2007-May 2008.
At
the end of December 2011, Bulgaria assumed the remainder of Hungary’s term
(through 2013) on the UN Economic and Social Council based on an internal
agreement between the two countries.
U.S.-BULGARIAN
RELATIONS
The
year 2003 marked the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the
United States and Bulgaria. U.S.-Bulgarian relations were severed in 1950 but
were restored a decade later. Bilateral relations between the two nations
improved dramatically after the fall of communism. The United States moved
quickly to encourage development of multi-party democracy and a market economy.
The U.S. signed a Bilateral Investment Treaty in 1994 and gave Bulgaria
most-favored-nation trade status in October 1996.
In
1989, the U.S. Congress passed the Support for East European Democracies Act
(SEED), authorizing financial support to facilitate development of democratic
institutions, political pluralism, and free market economies in the Balkan
region. Bulgaria graduated from the SEED program in 2007 following its EU
accession, having received over $600 million in SEED assistance since 1990.
The
U.S.-Bulgarian Defense Cooperation Agreement gives the United States military
access to and shared use of several Bulgarian military facilities. The access
facilitates joint training between the U.S. military and the Bulgarian and
Romanian militaries. In January 2009 a treaty on avoidance of double taxation
came into effect.
American
citizens traveling on a U.S. passport for business or tourism purposes can
enter and stay in Bulgaria for up to 90 days in a 6-month period without
requiring issuance of a visa.
Bulgaria
hosts the only fully American university in the region, the American University
of Bulgaria in Blagoevgrad, established in 1991, drawing students from
throughout southeast Europe and beyond. As of 2007, the American University of
Bulgaria had over 1,000 students.
BULGARIA
PROFILE
Geography
Area:
110,910 sq. km. (slightly larger than Tennessee).
Major
cities: Capital--Sofia 1.3 million. Others--Plovdiv 379,493; Varna 352,674.
Terrain:
Bulgaria is located in South Central Europe. The terrain is varied, containing
large mountainous areas, fertile valleys, plains and a coastline along the
Black Sea.
Climate:
Continental--mild summers and cold, snowy winters.
People
Population
(February 2011 census): 7,364,570.
Population
growth rate (February 2011 census): -0.7%.
Ethnic
groups (February 2011 census): Bulgarian 84.8%, Turkish 8.8%, Roma 4.9%, other
0.7% (including Macedonian, Armenian, Tatar), and unstated 0.8%.
Religions
(February 2011 census): Bulgarian Orthodox 76%, Muslim 10%, Roman Catholic
0.7%, Protestant 0.9%, others.
Language:
Bulgarian 85.2%, Turkish 9.1%, and Romani 4.2%.
Health:
Life expectancy (2009 est.)--male 69.48 years; female 76.91 years. Infant
mortality rate (2009 est.)--17.87 deaths/1,000 live births.
Work
force (2011 census): 3.3 million. By occupation (2007 est.)--agriculture 7.5%;
industry 35.5%, services 57%.
Government
Type:
Parliamentary democracy.
Constitution:
Adopted July 12, 1991.
Independence:
1908 (from the Ottoman Empire).
Branches:
Executive--president (chief of state), prime minister (head of government),
Council of Ministers (cabinet). Legislative--unicameral National Assembly or
Narodno Subranie--240 seats. Members are elected through a mixed electoral
system for 4-year terms. Judicial--three-tiered system.
Administrative
divisions: 28 provinces including the capital region of Sofia.
Suffrage:
Universal at 18 years of age.
Political
parties: Major political parties--Citizens for the European Development of
Bulgaria (GERB); Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP); Movement for Rights and Freedoms
(MRF); Attack Political Party (ATAKA); Blue Coalition (formed by Union of
Democratic Forces--UDF, Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria--DSB, and a few more
center-right parties). Parties and leaders--Attack Political Party or ATAKA
[Volen SIDEROV]; Blue Coalition (a coalition of center-right parties dominated
by UDF and DSB); Bulgarian Socialist Party or BSP [Sergei STANISHEV]; Citizens
for the European Development of Bulgaria or GERB [Boyko Borissov]; Coalition
for Bulgaria or CfB (coalition of parties dominated by BSP) [Sergei STANISHEV];
Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria or DSB [Ivan KOSTOV]; Internal Macedonian
Revolutionary Organization or IMRO [Krasimir KARAKACHANOV]; Movement for Rights
and Freedoms or MRF [Ahmed DOGAN]; National Movement for Stability and Progress
or NDSV [Hristina Hristova] (formerly National Movement Simeon II or NMS2);
Order, Law, Justice or RZS [Yane YANEV]; Union of Democratic Forces or UDF
[Martin DIMITROV]; Union of Free Democrats or UFD [Stefan SOFIYANSKI]. Results
from the July 5, 2009 general election were as follows (voter turnout 60.20%;
percentage of vote by party)--GERB 39.72%, BSP 17.70%, MRF 14.45%, ATAKA 9.36%,
Blue Coalition 6.76%, RZS 4.13%, other 7.88%. As of November 2011, seat
allocation was as follows--GERB 117, BSP 40, MRF 35, ATAKA 15, Blue Coalition
14, independent 19.
Economy
GDP
(2010): $47.9 billion.
Real
GDP growth: 0.2% (2010); -5.0% (2009); 6.2% (2008); 6.4% (2007); 6.5% (2006);
6.2% (2005); 6.6% (2004); 4.3% (2003).
Per
capita GDP (2010): $6,522.
Inflation
rate: 4.4% (2010); 1.6% (2009); 7.2% (2008); 11.6% (2007), 6.1% (2006); 7.4%
(2005); 4.0% (2004); 5.6% (2003).
Unemployment
rate: 9.2% (2010); 9.1% (2009); 6.3% (2008); 6.9% (2007); 9.1% (2006); 10.7%
(2005); 12.2% (2004); 14.3% (2003).
Natural
resources: Bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal, and timber.
Official
exchange rate: Lev per $1 U.S. = 1.47 (2010); 1.36 (2009); 1.39 (2008); 1.33
(2007); 1.49 (2006); 1.66 (2005); 1.44 (2004).
GEOGRAPHY
AND PEOPLE
Bulgaria
shares a border with Turkey and Greece to the south, Macedonia and Serbia to
the west, Romania to the north, and the Black Sea to the east. The capital,
Sofia, lies in the western region of the country. Ethnic groups include
Bulgarian, Turkish, Roma, and others. The official language is Bulgarian.
HISTORICAL
HIGHLIGHTS
Ancient
Thrace was partially located on the territory of modern Bulgaria, and Thracian
culture provides a wealth of archeological sites within Bulgaria. In the second
century A.D., the Bulgars came to Europe from their old homeland, the Kingdom
of Balhara situated in the Mount Imeon area (present Hindu Kush in northern
Afghanistan).
The
first Bulgarian state was established in 635 A.D., located along the north
coast of the Black Sea. In 681 A.D. the first Bulgarian state on the territory
of modern Bulgaria was founded. This state consisted of a mixture of Slav and
Bulgar peoples. In 864, Bulgaria adopted Orthodox Christianity. The First
Bulgarian Kingdom, considered to be Bulgaria's "Golden Age," emerged
under Tsar Simeon I in 893-927. During this time, Bulgarian art and literature
flourished. Followers of Saints Cyril and Methodius are believed to have
developed the Cyrillic alphabet in Bulgaria in the early 10th century.
In
1018, the Byzantine Empire conquered Bulgaria. In 1185 the Bulgarians broke
free of Byzantine rule and established the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. A number
of Bulgaria's famous monasteries were founded during this period. Following the
1242 Mongol invasion, this kingdom began losing territory to its neighbors.
Ottoman expansion into the Balkan Peninsula eventually reached Bulgaria, and in
1396 Bulgaria became part of the Ottoman Empire. During the 5 centuries of
Ottoman rule, most of Bulgaria's indigenous cultural centers were destroyed.
Several Bulgarian uprisings were brutally suppressed and a great many people
fled abroad. The April uprising of 1876, the Russo-Turkish War (1877-78), and
the Treaty of San Stefano (March 3, 1878, the date of Bulgaria's national
holiday), began Bulgaria's liberation from the Ottoman Empire, but complete
independence was not recognized until 1908.
During
the first half of the 20th century, Bulgaria was marred by social and political
unrest. Bulgaria participated in the First and Second Balkan Wars (1912 and
1913) and sided with the Central Powers, and later the Axis Powers, during the
two World Wars. Although allied with Germany during World War II, Bulgaria
never declared war on the Soviet Union and never sent troops abroad to fight
under Nazi command. Near the end of World War II, Bulgaria changed sides to
fight the German army all the way to Austria; 30,000 Bulgarian troops were
killed.
Bulgaria
had a mixed record during World War II, when it was allied with Nazi Germany
under a March 1941 agreement. The Law for the Protection of the Nation, enacted
in January 1941, divested Jews of property, livelihood, civil rights, and
personal security. Despite a February 1943 agreement requiring Bulgaria to
transfer Bulgaria's Jews to Nazi extermination camps in Poland, Bulgaria did
not actually deport any Bulgarian Jews or Roma to Nazi concentration camps.
Under that agreement, however, Bulgarian forces transferred approximately
11,000 Jews from Bulgarian-occupied territory (Thrace and Macedonia) to Nazi
concentration camps. In June 1943 the government "re-settled" Sofia's
25,000 Jews to rural areas. Tsar Boris--supported by the parliament (especially
its prominent Deputy Speaker, Dimitar Peshev), the Orthodox Church, and the
general public--aided the Jewish community and helped its 50,000 members
survive the war, despite harsh conditions. The Bulgarian Jews remained safe,
and when they were permitted to emigrate to Israel after the war, most of them
did.
King
Simeon II assumed control of the throne in 1943 at the age of six following the
death of his father Boris III. With the entry of Soviet troops into Bulgaria in
September 1944 and the defeat of the Axis Powers in World War II, communism
emerged as the dominant political force within Bulgaria. Simeon, who later
returned and served as Prime Minister, was forced into exile in 1946 and
resided primarily in Madrid, Spain. By 1946, Bulgaria had become a satellite of
the Soviet Union, remaining so throughout the Cold War period. Todor Zhivkov,
the head of the Bulgarian Communist Party, ruled the country for much of this
period. During his 27 years as leader of Bulgaria, democratic opposition was
crushed; agriculture was collectivized and industry was nationalized; and the
Bulgarian Orthodox Church fell under the control of the state.
In
1989, Zhivkov was removed from power, and democratic change began. The first
multi-party elections since World War II were held in 1990. The ruling
communist party changed its name to the Bulgarian Socialist Party and won the
June 1990 elections. Following a period of social unrest and passage of a new
constitution, the first fully democratic parliamentary elections were held in
1991 in which the Union of Democratic Forces won. The first direct presidential
elections were held the next year.
As
Bulgaria emerged from the throes of communism, it experienced a period of
social and economic turmoil that culminated in a severe economic and financial
crisis in late 1996-early 1997. With the help of the international community,
former Prime Minister Ivan Kostov initiated a series of reforms in 1997 that
helped stabilize the country's economy and put Bulgaria on the Euro-Atlantic
path. Elections in 2001 ushered in a new government and president. In July
2001, Bulgaria's ex-king Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha became the first former
monarch in post-communist Eastern Europe to become Prime Minister. His
government continued to pursue Euro-Atlantic integration, democratic reform,
and development of a market economy. Bulgaria became a member of the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization on March 29, 2004, and a member of the European
Union (EU) on January 1, 2007.
Following
June 2005 general elections, Sergei Stanishev of the Bulgarian Socialist Party
became the new Prime Minister of a coalition government on August 16, 2005. In
October 2006, Georgi Parvanov, the former leader of the Bulgarian Socialist
Party, became the first Bulgarian president to win re-election. Despite his
limited constitutional powers, President Parvanov played an important role in
helping to ensure a consistent, pro-Western foreign policy. The Stanishev
government continued Bulgaria's integration with the Euro-Atlantic world and
its close partnership with the United States. Bulgaria has attracted large
amounts of American and European investment, and is an active partner in
coalition operations in Afghanistan as well as in UN-led peacekeeping
operations in the Balkans.
In
the July 2009 general elections, Bulgarian voters punished the Socialist-led
government for corruption scandals and frozen EU funds. Citizens for the
European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) took 116 of 240 seats in parliament,
and its leader (and former Sofia mayor) Boyko Borissov became the Prime
Minister. Borissov formed a minority government supported by the Blue
Coalition, ATAKA, and Order, Law, Justice (RZS), but in the course of its
second year in office, these parties gradually withdrew their support for GERB.
The government's priorities include: promoting economic stability, unblocking
the frozen EU funds, and fighting corruption.
GOVERNMENT
AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS
Bulgaria
is a parliamentary republic. The unicameral National Assembly, or Narodno
Subranie, consists of 240 deputies who are elected for 4-year terms through a
mixed electoral system: 209 members of parliament (MPs) elected according to
the classic proportional representation system (voters vote for fixed,
rank-ordered party lists for each of the 31 electoral districts, with a
different list for each district), and 31 majority MPs elected individually
under the majority representation system in each and every district (the
winning candidate receives a plurality of the votes in the region). Parliament
selects and dismisses government ministers, including the prime minister,
exercises control over the government, and sanctions deployment of troops
abroad. It is responsible for enactment of laws, approval of the budget,
scheduling of presidential elections, declaration of war, and ratification of
international treaties and agreements.
A
1-month official campaign period precedes general elections. The voting age is
18. Preliminary results are available within hours of poll closings. Parties
and coalitions must win a minimum 4% of the national vote to enter parliament.
Seats are then allocated to the parties in proportion to the distribution of
votes in their respective electoral districts. Votes belonging to parties not
passing the 4% threshold are distributed to other parties using the method of
the smallest remainder. The lists of newly elected members of parliament are
announced 7 days after the elections. The president must convene the new
parliament within 1 month after the elections, and calls upon parties, coalitions,
or political groups to nominate a prime minister and form a government. If the
three largest parties, coalitions, or political groups fail to nominate a prime
minister, the president can dissolve parliament and schedule new elections. In
recent years, it has taken approximately a month for the new government to
form.
In
the general election held in Bulgaria July 5, 2009, turnout was 60.20%. Results
were as follows: GERB 39.7%, BSP 17.7%, MRF 14.4%, ATAKA 9.4%, Blue Coalition
6.8%, RZS 4.1%, other 7.9%; seats by party were GERB 116, BSP 40, MRF 38, ATAKA
21, Blue Coalition 15, RZS 10.
Results
of the June 7, 2009 European Parliament elections were GERB 24.36%, 5 seats;
BSP 18.5%, 4 seats; DPS 14.14%, 3 seats; ATAKA 11.96%, 2 seats; NDSV 7.96%, 2
seats; Blue Coalition (SDS-DSB and other right-wing parties) 7.95%, 1 seat
(turnout: 37.49%).
The
president of Bulgaria is directly elected for a 5-year term with the right to
one re-election. The president serves as the head of state and commander in
chief of the armed forces. The president is the head of the Consultative
Council for National Security and, while unable to initiate legislation, can
return a bill for further debate. Parliament can overturn the president's veto
with a simple majority vote. Bulgarian Socialist Party candidate Georgi
Parvanov won the November 2001 presidential election and was re-elected in
October 2006 as an independent candidate in a runoff against Volen Siderov, the
leader of extreme nationalist ATAKA Party.
Presidential
and local elections were held in October 2011. Turnout for the first round was
51.8%; the top three vote winners were Rosen Plevneliev (GERB) 40.11%, Ivailo
Kalfin (BSP) 29%, and Meglena Kuneva (independent) 14%. Plevneliev defeated
Kalfin 52.6% to 47.4% in the runoff and took office in January 2012.
The
prime minister is head of the Council of Ministers, which is the primary
component of the executive branch. In addition to the prime minister and deputy
prime ministers, the Council is composed of ministers who head the various
agencies within the government and usually come from the majority/ruling party
or from a member party of the ruling coalition in parliament. The Council is
responsible for carrying out state policy, managing the state budget and
maintaining law and order. The Council must resign if the National Assembly
passes a vote of no confidence in the Council or prime minister.
The
Bulgarian judicial system became an independent branch of the government
following passage of the 1991 constitution. Reform within this branch has been
slow, with political influence, widespread corruption, and long delays
continuously plaguing the system. In 1994, the National Assembly passed the
Judicial System Act to further delineate the role of the judiciary. In 2003, Bulgaria
adopted amendments to the constitution, which aimed to improve the
effectiveness of the judicial system by limiting magistrates' irremovability
and immunity against criminal prosecution. Additional amendments to the
constitution in 2006 and 2007 further increased oversight of the judicial
system by the legislative branch. They introduced the Supreme Judicial Council
as a permanently operating supervisory body, as well as an Inspectorate
responsible for overseeing the performance of the judicial system as a whole
and its individual members. The prosecution service was given absolute
authority over all investigations, and the police received a mandate to
investigate 95% of all crimes, which reduced the role of the investigative
service.
The
trial, appellate, and cassation (highest appellate) courts comprise the three
tiers of the judicial system. Military courts (at trial and appeal level)
handle cases involving military and Ministry of Interior personnel.
Administrative courts, effective since March 2007, specialize in reviewing
appeals of government acts.
The
Supreme Administrative Court and the Supreme Court of Cassation are the highest
courts of appeal and determine the application of all laws.
The
Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) is composed of 25 members serving 5-year terms.
Those who serve on the council are experienced legal professionals and are
either appointed by the National Assembly, selected by the judicial system, or
serve on the SJC as a result of their position in government. The SJC manages
the judiciary and is responsible for appointing judges. In 2007 parliament
revised the Judicial System Act to make it compliant with the latest
constitutional amendments, which provided for the establishment of the
Inspectorate with the Supreme Judicial Council: a standing body with 11 members
who investigate complaints of magistrates' misconduct, with no right to rule on
the substance of judicial acts.
The
Constitutional Court, which is separate from the rest of the judiciary,
interprets the constitution and constitutionality of laws and treaties. Its 12
justices serve 9-year terms and are selected by the president, the National
Assembly, and the Supreme Courts.
Principal
Government Officials
President--Rosen
Plevneliev
Prime
Minister--Boyko Borissov
Deputy
Prime Minister/Minister of Finance--Simeon Dyankov
Deputy
Prime Minister/Minister of Interior--Tsvetan Tsvetanov
Minister
of Foreign Affairs--Nickolay Mladenov
Minister
of Defense--Anyu Angelov
Minister
of Economy, Energy, and Tourism--Traicho Traikov
Bulgaria's
Commissioner to the EU--Kristalina Georgieva, Commissioner for International
Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid, and Crisis Response
Bulgaria
maintains an embassy in the United States at 1621 22nd Street, NW, Washington
DC 20008 (tel. 202-387-0174; fax: 202-234-7973).
ECONOMY
Bulgaria's
economy contracted dramatically after 1989 with the collapse of the COMECON
system and the loss of the Soviet market, to which the Bulgarian economy had
been closely tied. The standard of living fell by about 40%. In addition, UN
sanctions against Yugoslavia and Iraq took a heavy toll on the Bulgarian
economy. The first signs of recovery emerged when GDP grew in 1994 for the
first time since 1988, by 1.4% and then by 2.5% in 1995. Inflation, which
surged in 1994 to 122%, fell to 32.9% in 1995. During 1996, however, the
economy collapsed due to shortsighted economic reforms and an unstable and
de-capitalized banking system.
Under
the leadership of former Prime Minister Ivan Kostov (UDF), who came to power in
1997, an ambitious set of reforms was launched, including introduction of a
currency board regime, bringing growth and stability to the Bulgarian economy.
The currency board contained inflationary pressures and the three-digit
inflation in 1997 was cut to only 1% in 1998. Following declines in GDP in both
1996 and 1997, the Bulgarian Government delivered strong, steady GDP growth in
real terms in recent years. Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg's economic team
of young, Western-educated financiers continued to implement measures that
helped sustain stable economic growth and curb unemployment. Measures
introduced by the government were targeted at reducing corporate and individual
taxes, curtailing corruption, and attracting foreign investment. The government
also restructured the country's foreign debt, revived the local stock market,
and moved ahead with long-delayed privatization of some major state monopolies.
As a result of this progress, in October 2002 the European Commission declared
Bulgaria had a "functioning market economy."
Successive
governments continued these reforms, and in 2007 the country joined the
European Union. According to the World Bank, in 2006 Bulgaria attracted the
highest levels of foreign direct investment, as a share of GDP, among Eastern
European countries. In early 2007, to attract additional foreign investment,
the Bulgarian Government lowered corporate tax rates to 10%, reportedly the
lowest rate in Europe. A flat-tax rate of 10% for personal income, in place as
of January 1, 2008, has helped to bring down domestic labor costs and reduce
the share of the "gray" economy. In response to local governments'
demand for financial independence in 2006, parliament passed fiscal
decentralization of municipalities, granting them authority over collection and
administration of some taxes, thus further enhancing local economic stability.
The
2007-2009 global financial and economic crisis erased many of the gains
attributed to conservative fiscal policies and tax reforms. After 10 years of
steady growth, Bulgaria's economy fell into recession in the fourth quarter of
2008, causing an increase in both unemployment and household debt. After years
of relatively low inflation, domestic prices, particularly of food and energy,
increased in 2010. The government was slow implementing some of its planned
anti-crisis measures, and resorted to tapping into the fiscal reserve to tackle
short-term spending problems. The government also committed itself to
strengthening control over EU funds and fighting organized crime and
corruption.
The
global financial crisis significantly reduced the flow of new investments,
which previously supported strong economic growth. Domestic consumption
remained weak, and in 2011 export growth recovery slowed, reflecting signs of recession
in Bulgaria’s major EU trading partners. Faced with tough budget decisions, the
government continues to maintain fiscal discipline and a policy of budget
deficit reduction by planning a deficit of 1.3% of GDP in 2012. In contrast to
some Euro-zone states, Bulgaria’s public finances are not overwhelmed by huge
international debt, and its level of government debt (12% as of November 2011)
remains one of the lowest within the EU.
DEFENSE
Bulgaria
became a member of NATO on March 29, 2004. Bulgaria's military is currently
undergoing an ambitious restructuring program which aims to bring the army up
to NATO standards, modernize equipment, and bring about full integration of the
civilian and armed components. In 2008, Bulgaria made the transition to an all-volunteer
force. Through FY 2010, the U.S. Government has provided approximately $143
million in foreign military financing assistance to support training and
procurement of military equipment.
Bulgaria
has had over 700 troops serving abroad in support of NATO, EU, and UN missions.
It currently has around 600 troops in Afghanistan and has maintained small
contingents in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo. It has several military
observers serving in support of United Nations missions in Liberia and Kosovo,
as well as the EU's Operation Atalanta to fight piracy off the coast of
Somalia. Bulgaria deployed a frigate to help enforce the UN arms embargo
against Libya in 2011.
There
are three Bulgarian bases identified as “joint-use facilities” (meaning the U.S.
has the right to station troops and conduct training in them) in the
U.S.-Bulgarian Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) signed April 28, 2006 by
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice: Novo Selo Training Area (including the
Aytos Storage Facility), Bezmer Air Base, and Graf Ignatievo Air Base.
FOREIGN
RELATIONS
Bulgaria
became a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization on March 29, 2004,
and a member of the European Union on January 1, 2007. It is a member of the
United Nations, and in 2002-2003 served a 2-year term as a nonpermanent member
on the UN Security Council. Bulgaria served as Chair-In-Office of the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in 2004.
The
country joined the World Trade Organization in 1996. In July 1998, it became a
full member of the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA), which called
for the reduction of tariffs by 2002 on most industrial and agricultural goods
traded between CEFTA countries. Bulgaria has initialed free trade agreements
with Turkey, Macedonia, Croatia, Lithuania, Estonia, Israel, Albania, and
Latvia.
On
September 22, 2009, UNESCO’s Executive Board nominated Bulgarian diplomat Irina
Bokova to become its next Director General; she took office in November 2009.
Bulgaria's
relationship with its neighbors has generally been good. The country has proven
to be a constructive force in the region and has played an important role in
promoting regional security. Pursuing its initiative as a partner in the
South-East European regional cooperation, Bulgaria held the
chairmanship-in-office of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP)
for the period May 2007-May 2008.
At
the end of December 2011, Bulgaria assumed the remainder of Hungary’s term
(through 2013) on the UN Economic and Social Council based on an internal
agreement between the two countries.
U.S.-BULGARIAN
RELATIONS
The
year 2003 marked the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the
United States and Bulgaria. U.S.-Bulgarian relations were severed in 1950 but
were restored a decade later. Bilateral relations between the two nations
improved dramatically after the fall of communism. The United States moved
quickly to encourage development of multi-party democracy and a market economy.
The U.S. signed a Bilateral Investment Treaty in 1994 and gave Bulgaria
most-favored-nation trade status in October 1996.
In
1989, the U.S. Congress passed the Support for East European Democracies Act
(SEED), authorizing financial support to facilitate development of democratic
institutions, political pluralism, and free market economies in the Balkan
region. Bulgaria graduated from the SEED program in 2007 following its EU
accession, having received over $600 million in SEED assistance since 1990.
The
U.S.-Bulgarian Defense Cooperation Agreement gives the United States military
access to and shared use of several Bulgarian military facilities. The access
facilitates joint training between the U.S. military and the Bulgarian and
Romanian militaries. In January 2009 a treaty on avoidance of double taxation
came into effect.
American
citizens traveling on a U.S. passport for business or tourism purposes can
enter and stay in Bulgaria for up to 90 days in a 6-month period without
requiring issuance of a visa.
Bulgaria
hosts the only fully American university in the region, the American University
of Bulgaria in Blagoevgrad, established in 1991, drawing students from
throughout southeast Europe and beyond. As of 2007, the American University of
Bulgaria had over 1,000 students.
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar