The Bulgarian Experience in the European Union: A Warning and an Appeal to Switzerland

In his address to the Swiss party MCG in Geneva, Ivellin Mihaylov, chairman of a parliamentary group in Bulgaria, shared his country’s devastating experience as a member of the European Union, issuing a strong warning to Switzerland not to follow this path and to safeguard its sovereignty. Mihaylov, who has lived under three political regimes—socialist, free, and European—draws on his personal experience as an entrepreneur and politician to paint a bleak picture of disappointment, decline, and institutional crisis.

Deep Disappointment and Loss of Sovereignty

When Bulgaria joined the European Union, 95% of Bulgarians, including Mihaylov himself, welcomed the decision with high hopes. It was believed that membership would bring access to large markets, free movement of citizens, and fair rules, within the framework of an old and well-established democracy. The reality, however, turned out to be “devastating for our country.”

A striking example of the loss of sovereignty, Mihaylov noted, was the emergency admission of Bulgaria into the eurozone earlier this year, which he described as “a total loss of sovereignty.” According to him, the EU together with the Bulgarian government manipulated data to achieve this, even though Bulgaria had proven—with over 1,500 pages of evidence and a large protest in Brussels—that it did not meet the criteria. No EU representative came out to speak with the protesters or to discuss the evidence. He also pointed out that, in order to meet EU requirements, Bulgaria took on €26 billion in new foreign debt, on top of the existing €48 billion. Before EU membership, Bulgaria experienced a period of “rapid development,” but after accession, business became “increasingly difficult,” with rights and protection of private property missing.

Economic Decline and Destruction of Key Sectors

One of the most alarming aspects of Bulgaria’s experience, according to Ivellin Mihaylov, is the destruction of strategic economic sectors:

• Agriculture: Bulgaria, once the largest exporter of vegetables and meat in the former socialist bloc, has suffered a dramatic collapse in this sector. From 18 million decares of irrigated land at the time of EU accession, only 300,000 decares remain today. Irrigation systems were cut up and sold for scrap, with the support of European management, and the perpetrators were never punished, despite the act being proven as a crime. Despite its first-class soil, Bulgaria now produces only 15% of its vegetable needs. A telling case is that of Bulgaria’s largest vegetable producer, who was denied access to water from the Danube River due to extortion demands, with no judicial response—a strategic shortage.

• Tobacco Production: The sixth-largest tobacco company in the world was destroyed, with its markets taken by competitors. Tobacco production, which had provided a livelihood for nearly one-third of Bulgaria, was discontinued, leaving people dependent on the state and municipalities.

• Livestock Farming: Bulgaria was once a major exporter of sheep to the Arab world, producing 16 million sheep annually. Today, the number has fallen to just 300,000.

Corruption, Lack of Justice, and Institutional Capture

Mihaylov repeatedly emphasized that “There is no justice in the European Union” and “The mafia is very strong.” He supported this claim with several examples:

• Elections: The most recent elections in Bulgaria were described as “the most corrupt elections in Europe” and possibly among the most corrupt in the world. Evidence showed—through video recordings—that 50% of polling stations falsified results, backed by 1,500 pages of documentation and gigabytes of video material, yet Europe did not react.

• Judiciary and Media: The judiciary is “controlled by the mafia that runs the government,” while the media is gradually being captured by the same power. Even major European outlets like Deutsche Welle and Radio Free Europe support this “criminal administration.”

• Political Repressions: Opposition mayors are arrested and held for months without real charges. Following the last elections, the U.S. withdrew its ambassador from Bulgaria and has not sent another.

• Blocked Referenda: A referendum approved by 65% of the population was denied.

• Mihaylov argued that big EU countries seek to “kill the business of the small ones,” and when the center of power is in Brussels, it becomes extremely difficult to defend a nation.

Demographic and Social Crisis

The consequences of this decline have been dire for Bulgarian society:

• Demographic Collapse: Bulgaria’s population has shrunk from 8 million at EU accession to about 5.5 million, with even migrants refusing to stay in the country.

• Depopulation: Villages and small towns are deserted, leaving people jobless and dependent only on the state and municipalities.

• Water Shortages: Although Bulgaria is rich in water resources and once had 6,000 reservoirs (only about 300 remain functional), half of the population currently lacks access to drinking water.

• Education and Science: In Bulgaria, 80% of children are functionally illiterate, and there is a lack of science and future development. Only €50 million is allocated annually for science, a drastic contrast to the past, when Bulgaria was one of the three countries in the world producing microchips (alongside the USA and Japan).

• Poor Living Conditions: Mihaylov described life in Bulgaria as plagued by mafia, drugs, prostitution, and a lack of state organization.

• Tourism: Although EU statistics list Bulgaria as having “the cleanest bathing water,” in reality, sewage and chemicals are discharged directly onto beaches, infecting children.

An Appeal to Switzerland and a Proposal for Cooperation

In light of this negative experience, Ivellin Mihaylov issued a firm appeal to Switzerland not to sign agreements that would subject it to Brussels’ decisions. He declared that “Switzerland is an example for all of Europe” and that Europe should learn from Swiss governance, not the other way around. The results show that the Swiss economy is stronger, and Switzerland is a better place to live than the EU. For him, if the mafia in Brussels has “the final say,” it means a loss of sovereignty for Switzerland, just as it did for Bulgaria with the eurozone.

Despite the dire situation, Mihaylov sees potential for cooperation between Bulgaria and Switzerland, outside the EU framework. He proposed that Bulgaria could contribute with its many young people seeking opportunities for development, envisioning growth in sectors not strongly developed in Switzerland. The goal would be to complement each other as partners rather than compete. A concrete example is Bulgaria’s numerous mineral springs—the country ranks second after Iceland—which could be used for health tourism and joint business, benefiting both Swiss citizens and people worldwide. Mihaylov is convinced that if Bulgaria were given two years to “set things in order,” a strong industry could be built with solid Swiss investments.

In conclusion, Ivellin Mihaylov’s speech is a clear signal of the danger of losing national identity and economic independence when joining structures that do not guarantee justice and fairness. He presents Bulgaria as a cautionary example, urging Switzerland to preserve its uniqueness and to seek alternative paths of cooperation based on mutual benefit and respect.