„The European Union is the big change that happened in our lives . It is an opportunity for personal achievement. We can divide it into two components - practical - the feeling of free travel, and one about self-esteem - being part of a democratic club of countries that respect us for who we are. We wanted such a success for a long time, that's why it is so lasting and conscious in our minds”.
This was stated to NOVA by Nadezhda Neinski, who defended the significance of the achievement during the vote.
In her words, all achievements included in the ranking are a source of pride. “Success is not something that happens. It is work and effort, perseverance, overcoming oneself. The selection of events that people have done is part of their effort to seek out figures they admire and want to emulate. Examples are Grigor Dimitrov, Maria Bakalova, the gymnasts' title. The EU is freedom to make choices and realizations, and all individual achievements have been achieved thanks to freedom of expression, she pointed out.
The political scientist from “Gallup International“ Parvan Simeonov pointed out that the attitude towards the EU in society is positive. “The alliance remains the ultimate measure by which we measure our internal failures and the hope that there is a corrector from without. It represents identity, belonging and opportunity. NATO is thought of as a package with the EU, even though it is a military alliance. "People's conscious assessment is that the greatest achievement is the transition to the Western world," he commented.
According to him, Bulgarians are individualists, but this must change. "I am happy for Grigor Dimitrov, and for NATO and the EU, because the rational choice has always been the Western one. It is very important to remember that even after 1989 we have significant achievements. By definition, lately, the sources of self-esteem are sought in the past, in nostalgia," Simeonov believes.