Explaining the Attitudes of Parliamentarians towards European Integration in Bulgaria, Greece and Serbia: Party Affiliation, 'Left-Right' Self-placement or Country Origin?

EUROPEAN cooperation; LEGISLATOR attitudes; POLITICAL elites; POLITICAL affiliation; EUROPEAN Union countries politics & government; EUROPEAN Union; EUROPEAN economic integration

EUROPE; EUROPEAN Union countries

The article seeks to understand the attitudes of national elites toward European integration in the European Union (EU) member states of Bulgaria, Greece, and Serbia. The opinions of national political elites and the attitudes of members of National Parliaments (MPs) concerning integration are considered on the basis of country origin and political party affiliation. The level of trust in European institutions among MPs is measured and compared. It is suggested that political parties occupying positions at the extreme left or right are significantly more skeptical toward the EU. How the level of trust in European institutions will impact the EU integration process is discussed.