DISINFO: Bulgarians have not seen any significant benefits from membership of the EU and NATO
DISINFORMATION CASE DETAILS
  • Outlet: rs.sputniknews.com (archived)*
  • Date of publication: July 25, 2019
  • Outlet language(s): Serbian
  • Reported in: Issue 160
  • Countries / regions discussed: Bulgaria
Tags:
economy Economic difficulties NATO

DISINFO: Bulgarians have not seen any significant benefits from membership of the EU and NATO

SUMMARY

Bulgarians have not seen any significant benefits from EU membership. Furthermore, they benefited even less from joining NATO.

RESPONSE

These claims are false. Bulgaria joined the European Union in 2007; as a result, its GDP, exports, average annual wages, as well as a share of products created in their economies by the industrial sector increased. In 2006, before joining the European Union, Bulgaria’s GDP was estimated at USD 34.4 billion; in 2016, this figure increased to USD 52.4 billion. In 2006, the GDP per capita was equal to USD 6 107.71 and in 2016 it increased to USD 7 926. European countries account for 78% of Bulgarian exports. Find out more about how Bulgaria benefits from EU funding. In addition, the EU accession process helps the countries concerned build their capacity to adopt and implement EU law, as well as European and international standards. For similar disinformation cases about Bulgarian membership of the EU see here and here. Regarding the NATO claim, all the countries of Central and Eastern Europe which have joined NATO over the past decade have enjoyed peace, security and cooperation with their neighbours since then, Bulgaria included.

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Disclaimer

Cases in the EUvsDisinfo database focus on messages in the international information space that are identified as providing a partial, distorted, or false depiction of reality and spread key pro-Kremlin messages. This does not necessarily imply, however, that a given outlet is linked to the Kremlin or editorially pro-Kremlin, or that it has intentionally sought to disinform. EUvsDisinfo publications do not represent an official EU position, as the information and opinions expressed are based on media reporting and analysis of the East Stratcom Task Force.

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