Bulgaria's villages are not ready for the country's EU Accession, Borislav Borissov, head of the Bulgarian Villages' Association has announced.
In a survey taken last week, 79% of the 800 village mayors queried by the Association have admitted that they don't believe the villages are ready to face the tough requirements that come with the EU entry.
Living standard in the villages is far below the EU minimum, Borissov told Radio Plovdiv. He explained that problems connected to the desertification of the more rural areas are almost impossible to overcome at present.
This happens because the state and municipal administrations are completely passive when it comes to attracting investments for developing the village areas he said. People who live in those areas have completely lost their faith in the Bulgarian institutions, he added.