Bulgaria failed proving it was capable of implementing efficient measures against organised crime and corruption, Austrian newspaper Die Presse reported.
The image of Bulgarians in foreign media was quite negative, the newspaper reported. Corruption and organised crime were the two topics related to the country that were discussed mostly in foreign publications, according to the article.
As a potential EU member state Bulgaria was going to have problems with the negative image it had in other countries.
Die Presse quoted Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev as saying that if corruption levels were so high foreign investment in Bulgaria would not have increased fast.
Statistics confirmed Stanishev's words. Yet, corruption and organised crime remained among the major problems Bulgaria had to deal with before becoming EU member, Die Presse said.
The country suffered from such developments because of its transition from authoritarian socialism to free market economy, the report said.
Interior Minister Roumen Petkov said that the crime level was down. Thus, Bulgaria's problem was mainly connected to the already established negative image, the report said.
