The latest Eurobarometer survey showed that Bulgarians are significantly less likely to admit that they have been targeted by fake news than the EU average (Bulgaria – 51%, EU27 – 68%). At the same time, only 44% of Bulgarians doubt information from social media, compared to the average for the EU (60%).
Against this backdrop, only 11% of Bulgarians support providing military aid to Ukraine, with similar results in Slovakia and Cyprus. The three countries rank last, compared to a EU27 average of 25% and the highest level of support registered in Sweden (71%) and Finland (63%).
And then when you satisfy the requirements, Austria or the Netherlands will change them to make sure you don’t get in so that X right wing populist can placate Y régional election. This happened.
So, Putin stooges will then stand up and say that the European promise is all a lie. And they will be sounding reasonable, whereas the pro European ones will be looking like idiots who gave faith to a false promise.
Western Europeans have not treated the east Balkan countries fairly. This undermines the European project. I’m not saying anything bizarre.
I can’t believe I have to spell this out, but…
Leaving a long-term, years-long effort for joining a democratic union which will give you more freedom, a higher standard of living as well as lots of investments plus literally free money for public spending because some assholes allegedly abused the system for their own political gain in favour of a literal fascist warring dictatorship, which also occupied and exploited your country for decades and murdered countless of your citizens, and which is also literally raping and murdering civillians and stealing children right now as I type this right next to you seems a reasonable thing to do to you?
Of course not. But I’m not a Bulgarian voter that needs convincing. I’m someone who believes in the European project. I’m on your side. And I am pointing out that the other European countries are not doing enough to make the case to Bulgarian voters. Pro-european forces in the Balkans need a win. Calling the voters a basket of deplorables is not a winning argument. Getting Austria and the Netherlands to stuff it and finally accept BG and RO in Schengen is.
It’s politics, not a morality play.