Turkey’s EU Integration Stirs Controversy in Bulgaria
While politicians broadly support Ankara’s aims, some fear little Bulgaria may be sucked back into Turkey’s orbit.
By Albena Shkodrova*
Europe’s decision to start membership talks with Turkey has fuelled an anguished debate in neighbouring Bulgaria this week, pitting nationalist opponents of Ankara’s bid against firm supporters.
Bulgaria is expected to become a member of the union in less than 500 days.
The European Council’s decision to formally open accession talks in not an academic matter in Bulgaria.
The country has a 260 km-long land border with Turkey. The two countries are major trading partners and Turkey was one of the firmest defenders of Bulgaria’s bid to join NATO in 2002.
More than 800,000 ethnic Turks - 10 per cent of the population - live in Bulgaria, and the ethnically Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms, DPS, is an important political player.
Turkey also hosts more than 350,000 ethnic Turks who were expelled from Bulgaria between 1950 and 1989 many of whom regained Bulgarian citizenship in recent years. While remaining in Turkey, they still vote in elections here.
