Spasimir Domaradzki
University of Warsaw, Poland
[s.domaradzki2@uw.edu.pl], https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5794-6532
Hristo Berov
Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”
[berov@uni-sofia.bg], WSR ID: AAQ-4232-2020
The Three Seas Initiative in Bulgaria’s Public Discourse
Abstract: The “Three Seas” initiative is a relatively new attempt for closer integration and cooperation in the energy, transport and economic sectors of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe within the European Union. This type of cooperation aims to increase the competitiveness and connectivity of the involved countries, which in turn will strengthen the EU’s resilience. Whereas, Bulgaria is a part of this initiative from its inception, there is little public debate on the initiative in the country. Even when the “Three Seas” initiative is discussed it rarely concentrates on the facts, activities, advantages and disadvantages. Instead, it is often wrongly associated with geopolitics, which consciously or not, shifts the attention away from the initiative’s main goals and perspectives. Based on the analysis of the relevant materials in Bulgarian media, we take the opportunity to highlight the essence of the initiative, underline its distinctiveness when compared to other regional political concepts from the past, such as Intermarium, and challenge some of the myths and misinterpretations present in the Bulgarian public discourse.
Keywords: “Three Seas Initiative”; Bulgaria; public opinion; delusions.
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