The article discusses from the sociological perspective the processes of legal transformation in BulgariaBulgaria and RomaniaRomania. During the communist period, these countries demonstrated specific patterns of development. While Bulgaria mostly followed the Soviet model, RomaniaRomania represented an example of a deviant but radical version of the communist regime. However, the exit from communism did not result in complete rupture with its legacies in these countries. A new situation emerged after their accession to the EU in 2007. But it is widely acknowledged that EUPolicy policiesEU policies, aimed at promotion of the rule of lawRule of law in Southeastern Europe, often gave rise to unintended consequences. In many cases, the imposition of EU legal norms neglected the underlying political and social structures crucial for their implementation. At the same time, the rapid pace of reform resulted in formal compliance rather than genuine adherence to the rule of lawRule of law.