22% of Bulgarians feel that they are Europeans, according to a sociology poll conducted by the ACCAM Agency for sociological research.

The data from the poll titled "Society Trends at the End of Bulgaria's Second Year as an EU Member," was presented on Thursday by the Agency's Director Mihail Mirchev.

32% of the poll participants stated that they did not feel European at all.

170,000 Bulgarians work full or part-time for shady businesses while an additional 250,000 wished they were employed by such companies, the poll further revealed.

Bulgarians are optimistic for their long-term future, but pessimistic about the current situation. 44% of those polled are optimistic about Bulgaria's future while 33% are pessimistic.

5% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country is formed from funds transferred by Bulgarians working and living abroad.

"The research shows that 14% of all Bulgarians currently residing abroad would return to their motherland due to the financial crisis. This means that an additional 150,000 to 200,000 individuals would soon be on the Bulgarian labor market, which, most likely, at the present time would not be able to accommodate them," Mirchev said.

65% of Bulgarians believe that the country is failing in the absorption of EU funds due to widespread bureaucracy, while 25% think that Europe is trying to find ways to freeze the promised funds.

12% are convinced that Bulgaria's Ministers stay away from additional responsibilities and another 18% blame local mayors for trying to avoid problems.

54% of the polled expect prices to go up even more then in 2008 while 49% say that they would not be able to afford those prices. Only 5% think that prices might go down in 2009.

The poll has been conducted in the beginning of December among 1,600 individuals between 18 and 60 years of age.

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