These spillover effects are welcome eventually, as they accelerate structural change, which promotes economic growth. At the end of the day, only dynamic economies can sustain modernized, but still generous social systems in Europe. The integration process in Europe will mutually strengthen the EU and its current and future Member States.
Bulgaria and the other countries from Central and Eastern Europe certainly stand to gain most from the related catching-up and convergence process. But the EU-15 Member States, especially those with strong trade links to this area, for example Austria, will experience positive effects as well.