Bulgaria - EU: Dynamics of Approximation in Export Specialization

Abstract

The article analyses the sectoral specialization of Bulgarian exports, making a comparison with the sectoral specialization of the EU as an entity and some of the new member states. It focuses on the question of whether Bulgaria’s five years of EU mem- bership contributed to the approximation of the export specialization or differences have remained. In case there is an approximation, is it an accidental or an objective process that is observed in the other new EU member states from Central and Eastern Europe that have a similar economic structure? The answer is sought by using the index of export specialization. This index is calculated on the basis of the product groups, selected by the author in compliance with the Standard Inter- national Trade Classification.  Moreover, the aggregate sectoral index deviations are com- pared by countries. Based on the comparative analysis, conclusions are made about the current situation of Bulgaria’s export spe- cialization and about the factors that impact the approximation process of the export spe- cialization of the EU member states.