Change and continuity in Bulgaria and Romania’s foreign policies post-EU accession

ABSTRACT

For much of the post-Cold War period the most important foreign policy priority for Bulgaria and Romania was framed by the aim of ‘returning to Europe’. The goal to integrate in the European and Euro-Atlantic structures was so pervasive that it dominated the domestic, but more importantly, the foreign policy agendas of the two countries. Securing membership of the European Union (EU) and then preparing for it raised a large number of challenges for the foreign policies of Romania and Bulgaria. Following accession, Bulgaria and Romania have been forced to reframe their strategy, as their main foreign policy goal had been fulfilled. In this context, the article examines the way Romania and Bulgaria’s foreign policy priorities have evolved since 2007. The focus is on analysing the contribution of the two countries to EU foreign policy and accounting for their lack of initiative and activism in this policy area.

KEYWORDS:

• Romania
• Bulgaria
• foreign policy
• European Union
• Russia

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a grant of the Ministry of Research and Innovation, CNCS – UEFISCDI, project number PN-III-P1-1.1-TE-2016-0073, within PNCDI III.

Notes

1 At the same time, as the article highlights, in comparison to other member states from Central and Eastern Europe, which faced similar constraints, like Poland or the Czech Republic, Sofia and Bucharest were much more inactive in trying to learn the necessary negotiation skills to shape the EU’s foreign policy.

2 Even though there is considerable disagreement in the literature over the actual definition of small states, we argue that a state can be considered small if it has a limited ability to influence the international agenda (Maass, 2009). There are various ways of classifying small states according to their characteristics, and Romania and Bulgaria’s capabilities in some areas may very well point to the potential to punch above the weight of a small state. Moreover, we argue that the various features identified by the literature, such as size, population, economy, military weight are essential when differentiating a small state (including Romania and Bulgaria) from a great power. For instance, according to Copsey and Haughton (2009) size determines dependency on institutions/international organizations (such as the EU) to compensate for their external limitations. However, as this article highlights both countries have framed their identity in world politics as small states, a perception which underscored their inactivity in foreign policy and meagre ability to influence the international agenda.

3 See http://www.bnb.bg/Statistics/StExternalSector/StForeignTrade/StFTExports/index.htm.

4 See http://www.tourism.government.bg/bg/kategorii/statisticheski-danni/statisticheski-danni-za-mezhdunaroden-turizum-v-bulgariya-za-2018-g.

5 See Bulgaria’s National Security Strategy. Retrieved from: https://www.me.government.bg/files/useruploads/files/national_strategy1.pdf.

6 See https://www.mfa.bg/en/news/18741.

7 See priorities of the Bulgarian presidency of the Council of the EU.

8 See more details about their relationship here: https://europeanwesternbalkans.com/2019/02/05/zaev-borisov-meet-sofia-discuss-economic-cultural-cooperation/.

9 See the conclusions of the summit: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/international-summit/2018/05/17/.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by a grant of the Romanian Ministry of Research and Innovation, CNCS – UEFISCDI, project number PN-III-P1-1.1-TE-2016-0073, within PNCDI III.