Bulgaria is a parliamentary republic in Southeast Europe on the Balkan Peninsula, known for its rich history, cultural diversity, and a blend of Byzantine, Ottoman, and Slavic influences, which created the Cyrillic alphabet. Officially the Republic of Bulgaria, its capital is Sofia, and it is bordered by Romania, Serbia, North Macedonia, Greece, and Turkey, with the Black Sea to its east. As a member of the EU, Bulgaria has transitioned from a planned to a market economy but still faces challenges like institutional weaknesses, though it also boasts a relatively low cost of living and produces high-quality rose oil.