Understanding Europeanization in Bulgaria and Romania: following broader European trends or still the Balkan exceptions?

This special issue provides a much-needed occasion for reflection on Bulgaria and Romania's integration into the European Union (EU) and subsequent Europeanization. Reflection and empirical examination are much needed to put both countries’ records and development in a broader comparative perspective in the context of current studies of democratic backsliding, Europeanization and politicisation of European integration.