Samenvatting

The aim of this paper is to give the reader a comprehensive approach to the topic of the emerging Regional Policy in Bulgaria and its progress. The issue gained a large scope of attention since Bulgaria started working her way to the European Union. The regional policy
has a great importance for the future of the country as a MS, its development and prosperity.
In the process of Accession the EU set high requirements and numerous procedures that Bulgaria had to fulfill. Under the pressure caused by restrictions and high expectations, the disparities between the Bulgarian regions become more evident.
Furthermore, the EU plays central role in the shaping of the national Regional Policy.
Bulgaria receives help in adopting and implementing the EU policy model and outlining its main priorities. Also, the EU helps the country to achieve its national goals and improve the life standards by means of Pre-Accession Funds, instruments and objectives. On the other hand, the benefiting country has to bring back benefits to the Union.
In this respect, I will focus on the EU influence on the process of defining the national priorities and the effectiveness of the EU regional policy in Bulgaria.
Firstly, in order to examine the impact of the EU on the Bulgarian governance and the results of the developments that the country has experienced so far, we need to understand the nature of the policy. Therefore, the paper highlights the implementation of the regional policy in Bulgaria through all the stages and procedures on the way to become a member of the EU. It begins with a summary of the EU Regional Policy explaining its objectives, instruments and
procedures, followed by examination of the Bulgarian Accession process and its experience with the Pre-Accession Funds. The following two chapters are dedicated to the Bulgarian
Pre- and Post-Accession regional policy. The current Operational Programmes and absorption rates are discussed in chapter five. And last but not least, a view on the regional
policy strategy for the next programme period and the Danube Strategy, as an example of the European idea for integration and unity, are the closure of this report.