保加利亚2004年主要经济数据（英）

Background: After a violent communist takeover, Bulgaria became a People's Republic in 1947. The communist regime collapsed in November 1989, but the Bulgarian Communist Party—renamed the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP)—won the country's first free election. The anti-communist Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) formed a government after the October 1991 election, but this was replaced in December 1992 by a technocratic government backed by the BSP and the mainly ethnic Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF). The December 1994 election returned the BSP to power, but a severe economic crisis in 1996-97 forced an early general election in April 1997, which was won by a UDF-led centre-right coalition. The newly founded Simeon II National Movement (SNM) won the 2001 election and governed with the MRF until the June 2005 election. The 2005 election was won by the BSP, although the party fell far short of winning an absolute majority in parliament. After protracted negotiations, the BSP, the SNM and the MRF formed a broad governing coalition in August 2005.

Political structure: Bulgaria has a unicameral legislature. The 240-member National Assembly is constitutionally the highest state authority. Its members are elected by proportional representation. A new constitution was passed in July 1991. The head of state is a directly elected non-executive president, who has the power to delay legislation, but not to block it.

Policy issues: Following the 1996-97 economic crash, an IMF-backed currency board was introduced. The currency board is intended to continue until Bulgaria adopts the euro (planned for 2009). With domestic demand growing rapidly, fiscal policy will have to remain tight. Further structural reforms and harmonisation of domestic legislation with the EU will be needed if Bulgaria is to take full advantage of entry to the EU, which the government hopes will take place in 2007.

Taxation: Rates for personal income tax are progressive, ranging from 10% to 24%. For non-financial companies, the profit tax rate in 2005 is 15%. Value-added tax (VAT) is levied at a single rate of 20%, although tourism packages sold abroad have a rate of 7%.

Foreign trade: In 2004 exports of goods amounted to US$9.9bn and imports of goods (cif) to US$14.4bn. The current-account deficit was US$2.1bn (8.5% of GDP) in 2004, down from 9.3% of GDP in 2003.