Just Because You Joined the EU...

...doesn't mean you get to eat...or procreate and live long. Lesson learned, Eastern Europe. Lesson learned.

The Sofia Weekly: EUROSTAT research shows Bulgaria ranks first among all member states of the European Union in the percentage growth of food prices. The data shows food prices in the poorest EU member state went up 25% between April 2007 and April 2008. Bulgaria is followed Latvia and Estonia.

Also, according to EUROSTAT, Bulgaria's population dropped 8% in the last 10 yrs, which places the country dead last on population growth. Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Romania, Hungary, and Croatia also have negative values for population growth, whereas Ireland, Cyprus, and Luxembourg rank 1st. The EU population as a whole rose 3,4%. Ouch...