Bulgaria’s story is not one of failure. It is one of asymmetry. The country has achieved many of the objectives of post-communist integration, while some of the domestic reforms meant to accompany that process remain incomplete. Bulgaria has become more European in legal and institutional terms, but not always more predictable, transparent or accountable in daily life.

Another expression captures the same phenomenon even more directly: “imam chovek”, which literally means “I have someone.” Popularized by the rapper and politician Itzo Hazarta (real name Hristo Petrov), the phrase refers to the informal networks that often mediate access to opportunities, services and influence. Need a document processed quickly? A recommendation? A favour? “I have someone.” It is a joke, but one rooted in a social reality many Bulgarians immediately recognize.

This historical gratitude does not necessarily translate into support for the Kremlin. Yet it helps explain why debates about Russia remain emotionally and politically more complex than elsewhere on NATO’s Eastern Flank. Bulgaria’s relationship with Russia is shaped not only by current security concerns, but also by historical memory.

None of this should obscure the country’s achievements. Bulgaria is wealthier, more open and more secure than it was before joining the European Union. Its cities are changing. Its cultural influence is growing. Its civil society remains active. The country’s democratic story is unfinished, but it is not hopeless.

For the European Union, Bulgaria offers an important lesson. Integration can anchor countries geopolitically, but it cannot by itself create trust. Membership, funding and formal compliance matter, but they do not automatically generate institutions that citizens believe in.