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Determinants of Support for European Integration

The Case of Bulgaria

American University in Bulgaria, Bulgaria, ctanasoiu{at}aubg.bg

Constantin Colonescu

Grant MacEwan College, Edmonton, Canada, ColonescuC{at}macewan.ca

The electorate's ability to influence the European agenda through European elections and national referenda has led to a close inspection of public attitudes by both academics and politicians. Taking a micro-level approach, this article contributes to the larger literature on the formation of public attitudes and aims at identifying the factors that influence public attitudes towards European integration in Bulgaria, one of the new member states. We use a national survey and rely upon utilitarian, value-based and heuristic factors to test several hypotheses. Although our data confirm the argument that support is higher in countries with lower opportunity costs of transferring sovereignty to the European Union, we also find that EU membership is assessed by projecting potential benefits for future generations rather than self-centered expectations of immediate returns.

Key Words: Bulgaria • economic performance • European integration • national government • public attitudes

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