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This article explores views of the EU in Bulgaria and other Central and Eastern European countries, juxtaposing public opinion with the discourse of the elites. The recent history of these views dates back to the fall of the Soviet-style Communist regime, based as they are on the political and geopolitical culture of Europe’s post-Communist nations. Our analysis addresses the recurrent perceptions of the EU as a rich donor entity and its geopolitical role as a guarantor of independence from Russia and Turkey.