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Daniela Ilieva, Dragomir Iliev
THE IMPACT OF CULTURAL HETEROGENEITY ON THE EUROPEAN INTEGRATION PROCESS
Summary:
After sixty years of integration, the idea of a united Europe has been put to the test. The purpose of this article is to put to discussion the degree of integration achievable between the member states. European Union integration which has been achieved so far is evaluated in the light of the three schools for regional integration: neoliberal models, the dirigiste school and structuralism. A new division of integration forms is proposed: technical and substantial integration. Technical integration is exogenous in nature and refers to the objects of integration, while substantial integration is endogenous and refers to the subjects of integration. The article focuses on cultural differences in the EU as a factor underlying substantial integration.
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Kalina L. Durova
THE COHESION POLICY OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
AND INTER-REGIONAL DISPARITIES IN BULGARIA
Summary:
The article presents a theoretical analysis of the causes for inter-regional disparities and an empirical study on the impact of the EU Cohesion Policy on the standard of living in Bulgaria. It also gives some recommendations for maximizing the beneficial effect of this policy on the regions in our country. The author defends the thesis that the economic imbalances among regions cause social and demographic ones. Accordingly, the study focuses on the economic inter-regional differences and the way they are affected by the Cohesion (Regional) policy of the European Union as a tool utilized by the Community to achieve economic and social cohesion.
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Silvia Sasheva Zarkova
REGIONAL DISPARITIES IN BULGARIA TODAY: ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHALLENGES
Summary:
To accelerate Bulgaria's economic development taking into account the specific characteristics of their regions is a serious challenge for the local governments in the country. The ongoing political and economic changes require a reassessment of the country's economic development. The aim of this study was to analyse the disparities among Bulgaria’s regions (defined in accordance with the Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS)) by assessing the degree of economic, social and demographic chal¬lenges they face and performing a multivariate comparative analysis with sets of statistically significant indicators. The analysis clearly outlines the bounda¬ries of the regional disparities and the need to improve the country’s regional and cohesion policies.
