Georgi Gotev
EU backs self-proclaimed president Guaido, says voice of Venezuelan people ‘cannot be ignored’
The European Union said Wednesday (23 January) that the voice of the Venezuelan people "cannot be ignored" and called for "free and credible elections" after the South American country's parliament leader declared himself interim president on Wednesday (23 January).
For oligarchs or Mafiosi, obtaining a Bulgarian passport is easy and cheap
The case of the Russian oligarch Sergei Adoniev is a good example for the obscure ways Bulgarian citizenship is being granted to paying clients. Free Europe Bulgaria broke the story on Tuesday (22 January) a day before the EU Commission will issue a warning against “golden passports” schemes.
Commission warns Romania against amnesty plans for corrupt officials
The European Commission warned Romania on Tuesday (22 January) against passing a decree that would provide an easy legal tool to overturn corruption convictions for politicians, including the strongman Liviu Dragnea, leader of the ruling PSD party.
Russia plays for time in EU-mediated Ukraine gas transit talks
The EU mediated on Monday (21 January) talks between Moscow and Kyiv on the future of Russian gas transit via Ukraine, the only decision being that the sides agreed to meet again in May.
Azeri parliamentary cooperation chair: MEPs should check facts before they vote
Some events in Azerbaijan are treated in the EU with prejudice and intentional bias, and some MEPs have a clear agenda to make obstacles to the rapprochement of EU-Azerbaijan relations, Javanshir Feyziyev told EURACTIV in a written interview.
EU, UN welcome thaw in Armenia-Azerbaijan relations over Nagorno-Karabakh
The EU welcomed on Friday (18 January) a recent thaw in relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the conflict of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Parliament seeks financial punishment for countries breaching rule of law
European Union countries that undermine the bloc's democratic principles could lose EU funds, under a draft law backed by the European Parliament on Thursday (17 January).
Kazakhstan advocates closer ties between EU and Eurasian Economic Union
A senior official from Kazakhstan, one of the five members of the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), has called for greater cooperation between EEAU and the EU, ultimately aiming to create a single economic space from the Atlantic to Pacific. But a Commission spokesperson made clear it could only be a long-term goal, depending on political developments.
Tsipras wins confidence vote, eyes Prespa agreement ratification
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Wednesday (16 January) survived a confidence vote after a row over a landmark name deal with Macedonia sunk his four-year coalition.
RSF slams jail sentence for Montenegro reporter on drug charges
An award-winning investigative reporter was sentenced to 1.5 years in prison in Montenegro on drug trafficking charges on Tuesday (15 January), in a ruling slammed by media watchdog RSF as a "disturbing set-back" for press freedom.
Berlin waves prospect of more talks with UK ahead of ‘meaningful vote’
The European Union could hold new talks with London if the UK parliament rejects the Brexit agreement tonight, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Tuesday (15 January) but reiterated there was little hope of fundamentally changing the agreement.
Greece and Russia exchange furious statements over Macedonia
The Russian foreign ministry published on Tuesday (14 January) a statement voicing concern about “instability” in Greece following the ratification of the recent change of the constitution in Macedonia. Greece retorted with a warning to Russia not to interfere in its internal affairs.
Gdańsk mayor’s murder sends shockwaves through EU
Paweł Adamowicz, the liberal mayor of the Polish city of Gdańsk, died on Monday (14 January) of his wounds, a day after being stabbed by a man who rushed the stage during a charity event. EU officials said they were devastated and expressed utter shock.
US threatens EU companies with sanctions over Nord Steam 2, Turkish Stream
A transatlantic tiff over Europe’s natural gas supply came to the boil on Sunday (13 January), as Donald Trump’s ambassador to Germany threatened firms involved in a pipeline from Russia with sanctions. At stake is a mixture of economic and security interests...
Trump cancels planned Davos trip as shutdown drags on
US President Donald Trump on Thursday (10 January) canceled a planned visit later this month to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, signaling he was prepared for the political showdown over the partial federal government shutdown to stretch into late January.
Russia ditches dollar, opts for euro and yuan
A report by the Bank of Russia published late on Wednesday (9 January) reveals that the country dumped $101 in US holdings from its reserves, shifting into euros and yuan last spring amid a new round of US sanctions.
No EU ambassadors attend Maduro’s second term inauguration
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Thursday (10 January) begins a new term that critics dismiss as illegitimate, with the economy in free fall and the country more isolated than ever. The 56-year-old leader will be sworn in at 1400 GMT by the...
‘Grand coalition’ to end after May’s EU parliament poll, survey suggests
The 'grand coalition' of the centre-right and left groups in the European Parliament is set to end after May's European elections, according to a projection by VoteWatch, the Brussels-based think-tank famous for monitoring how MEPs vote, published on Wednesday (9 January).
Salvini calls for ‘Italian-Polish axis’ to replace Paris-Berlin
Italy's far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini on Wednesday (9 January) said populists from Italy and Poland should spark a "European spring" to replace the centre-right influence of Germany and France, ahead of key EU elections.
Far-right policies see Italy’s democracy ranking plummet
The policies of Italy's anti-immigrant and anti-establishment government which came to power last June have torpedoed the country's global democracy ranking, a think tank said Wednesday (9 January).
Under Dutch and Danish pressure, EU hits Iran with sanctions after murder plots
The EU hit Iran’s intelligence services with sanctions on Tuesday (8 January) after accusing Tehran of being behind plots to assassinate regime opponents on Dutch, Danish and French soil. The move by the 28-nation bloc was announced as the Dutch government said it...
EU puzzled by downgrade of its ambassador to Washington
The EU is currently discussing “possible implications” of a change in the diplomatic protocol in the US, which resulted in the Union having been downgraded in the precedence list to the level of an international organisation, together with the African Union.
Purchase of new fighter jets by Bulgaria pits President against Prime Minister
Bulgaria’s President Rumen Radev slammed on Sunday (6 January) the government of Boyko Borissov for having “perverted” the procedure for the acquisition of new fighter jets.