This study explores the impact of the European debt crisis and the quality of the institutions on the economic growth in Bulgaria in the pre-accession period and during the period of EU membership. The European debt crisis broke the upward trend not only on the Bulgarian but also on the economies of all EU member states. On a comparative basis, the significance of the severity of the crisis for each country, the policy on gross public debt and the dynamics of economic development to overcome the crisis is assessed. The quality of institutions is seen as one of the main factors that hinder or help economic growth