Georgi Gotev
1,400 arrested at Moscow election protest, EU reacts
The EU denounced “disproportionate use of force against peaceful protesters” on Saturday (27 July), after Russian police arrested nearly 1,400 people as they gathered in Moscow at the weekend to demand free and fair elections, the biggest such crackdown in years.
Russia says second leg of Turkish Stream will go via Bulgaria, not Greece
The second leg of the Turkish Stream pipeline will go through Bulgaria, Serbia and Hungary, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on Friday (26 July).
Nord Stream 2 takes unusual legal step against the Commission
The Nord Stream 2 pipeline company has taken an unusual legal step in its dispute with the European Commission by asking the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) to annul the amendments to the Gas Directive which the Gazprom-led...
EU anti-fraud network EUROFISC hacked in Bulgaria
Hackers in Bulgaria have got access to huge amounts of information, including files from the EU’s anti-fraud network EUROFISC. The Commission confirmed to EURACTIV on Thursday (25 July) that it was monitoring the embarrassing situation.
Andriukaitis raps Bulgaria for failing to act against swine fever
The inadequate reaction of Bulgaria's authorities to a huge outbreak of swine fever puts at risk the entire pig population of the country, the EU Commissioner for health, food and safety has told the Bulgarian National Radio ‘Horizont’ programme.
Two charged with ‘terrorism’ over Bulgaria’s biggest data breach
Prosecutors have charged two workers at a cybersecurity company with terrorism as part of an investigation into Bulgaria's biggest-ever data breach, a lawyer for the defendants said on Wednesday (24 July).
Scandals in Kyrgyzstan highlight dubious Chinese business practices
Kyrgyzstan was shaken by a major corruption scandal involving a Chinese company while the country’s capital Bishkek was hosting a ministerial meeting of the five Central Asian countries earlier this month. EU officials told EURACTIV this experience should serve as...
Ukraine president on course for unprecedented majority after election win
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy looked set on Monday (22 July) to become Ukraine's first leader since the fall of communism to command a single party majority in parliament, in what would be an unprecedented mandate to deliver promised reforms.
EU coalition of the willing agrees new migrant ‘solidarity mechanism’
Fourteen member countries of the European Union have agreed to a new "solidarity mechanism" proposed by Germany and France to allocate migrants across the bloc, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday (22 July).
Nord Stream 2, EU drifting towards legal arbitration
The European Commission and the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline company are heading toward legal arbitration in their dispute, with a risk of huge fines for EU taxpayers and uncertainties for the Gazprom-led company that are even more difficult to evaluate.
Warsaw says Trump to attend invasion of Poland anniversary
Poland said on Thursday (18 July) US President Donald Trump would attend events in Warsaw marking the 80th anniversary of the Nazi invasion of the country - though the White House said the trip was not yet confirmed.
Von der Leyen vote may trigger snap elections in Italy
Italy's two ruling parties clashed on Wednesday (18 July) over the election of German Ursula von der Leyen as the next president of the European Commission in a vote that could endanger Rome's hopes of securing a top job in the new EU executive.
Finnish presidency commits to linking rule of law with EU funding
Finnish Prime Minister Antti Rinne told the European Parliament on Wednesday (17 July) that his country’s presidency of the Council of the EU would continue negotiations on how to link more closely the disbursement of EU funds with respect for the rule of law in member states.
Selmayr’s departure: Just in time for von der Leyen’s election?
European Commission Secretary-General Martin Selmayr, whose sudden promotion angered MEPs last year and earned a rebuke from the European Ombudsman, will step down from his post next week, a spokeswoman for the EU executive said on Tuesday (16 July).
Suspense: Will EU Commission nominee survive Parliament vote?
This is the question on everyone's lips as EU Commission President nominee Ursula von der Leyen faces a confirmation vote in the European Parliament on Tuesday (16 July). While some political groups are openly against her, others are divided, for different reasons.
Georgian government dismisses pro-Russia bias claims
A leading opposition politician has accused the Georgian government of pro-Russian bias, tacitly condoned by the EU, but representatives of the ruling party, as well as diplomats, insist there is a consensus on big geopolitical matters and the entire country is pro-Western.
Germany tells the East: Speed up reform or you will lose your population
Germany’s minister of state for Europe delivered a blunt message to a gathering of the Eastern Partnership, organised in the Georgian Black Sea city of Batumi on Thursday (11 July): unless reforms in Eastern Europe speed up, its young people will leave to find a better life in Western Europe.
Georgia suggests taking an unconventional path to EU accession
Georgia staked its claim to becoming an EU member on Thursday (11 July), even if it meant an innovative approach and "knocking on every door", its president told an international conference marking the tenth anniversary of the Eastern Partnership in the Georgian Black Sea city of Batumi.
Tusk hopes for ‘higher level’ of EU-Azerbaijan ties
On a visit to Baku on Tuesday (9 July), Council President Donald Tusk said the EU and Azerbaijan were “coming closer to each other every year”, and expressed the Union’s readiness to further deepen our cooperation with Azerbaijan, including in fields such as human rights.
Juncker will need to accept replacement Commissioners from Romania, Estonia
Faced with opposition from the member states, Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker was unable to block the replacement of the Romanian and Estonian commissioners, who were elected as MEPs and already took their MEP seats.
Chizhov: Washington chose to act unilaterally to abrogate nuclear arms treaty
In a wide-ranging interview, Russia's Ambassador to the EU Vladimir Chizhov, speaks about nuclear arms control, the EU elections and top jobs, the situation in Ukraine, including the MH17, and America's bid to challenge Russian gas.
Central Asia ministerial welcomes the EU’s new strategy for the region
Gathered in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, on Sunday (7 July), the Foreign Ministers of the five Central Asian countries welcomed the new EU Strategy on Central Asia recently adopted by the EU.
EU and Central Asia: A new strategy
On 17 June 2019, the Council adopted a new EU strategy on Central Asia, adapting the EU policy to new opportunities which have emerged in the region.