About: bad governance
The drained lake in Bulgaria – and the money siphoned away
How was it possible that the water from Bulgaria’s Studena Dam disappeared, creating a humanitarian crisis for more than 100,000 people in the city of Pernik?
The ‘Lake monster’ that drank the water of a dam in Bulgaria
Where did the water from Bulgaria's Studena Dam disappear, creating a humanitarian crisis for more than 100,000 people in the city of Pernik? Following the first part of Valya Ahchieva's investigation, the Minister of environment and water Neno Dimov was arrested.
Minister arrested following investigative report by EURACTIV Bulgaria
Bulgaria's minister for environment and water resources was placed in 24-hour custody, the office of the Prosecutor General said on Thursday. The development took place after an investigative report by EURACTIV Bulgaria exposed mismanagement that left the city of Pernik without drinking water.
How a Bulgarian city with decrepit sports base becomes a ‘European city of sports’
At a recent ceremony in the European Parliament in Brussels, the Association of European Capitals and Cities of Sport awarded the title of 'European City of Sport for 2020' to Pazardzhik. Valia Ahchieva takes a closer look at the Bulgarian city, whose sports base has fallen into disrepair and is earmarked for private developers.
Bosnia must overhaul judiciary, end political obstruction –report
Bosnia and Herzegovina must overhaul its complex and opaque justice system and do more to protect the rule of law if it wants to press its case to join the European Union, legal experts said in an EU-commissioned report on Thursday (5 December).
A ruin to serve as Children’s Hospital? Angry Bulgarians call on Brussels to intervene
A conflict is brewing in Bulgaria between civil society and the government over plans to reconstruct a 12-floor ruin, built during the last years of communism and abandoned ever since, into a children's hospital.
Brexit chaos stirs fears for Bulgaria seasonal farm workers
The 960 inhabitants of the Bulgarian village of Brashten, nestled in the hills and forests on the Greek border, don't normally pay much heed to international politics.
Eritrea: an open-air prison, EU indifferent
Despite the dire situation on the ground in Eritrea, EU countries and the European Union as a whole look the other way. Benoit Lannoo explains why
Thousands in Montenegro rally against President Djukanovic
Thousands protested in Montenegro’s capital Podgorica on Saturday (2 February), the fourth such rally in as many weeks, demanding that President Milo Djukanović and his government resign over alleged corruption, cronyism and abuse of office.
Why do foreign investors leave Bulgaria as if it were the Titanic?
Despite being one of the most beautiful countries in the European Union, despite having talented and educated people, despite a favourable tax environment, Bulgaria is likely to stay as the poorest in the EU, and to continue losing its population, writes Blaga Thavard.
World reaction cautious to disputed DR Congo vote result
Foreign leaders reacted cautiously to the outcome of DR Congo's presidential election Thursday (10 January), with many choosing not to congratulate the man declared winner and appealing for disputes to be settled peacefully.
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...
Pressure mounts on DR Congo over election outcome
Public and diplomatic pressure mounted Monday (8 January) on the Democratic Republic of Congo to announce the outcome of 30 December elections to replace long-term leader Joseph Kabila.
DR Congo to vote in end-of-an-era poll
Democratic Republic of Congo goes to the polls this week in elections which could see the country emerge from 17 years of conflict-ridden rule under controversial President Joseph Kabila.
Campaigning for critical election opens in crisis-wracked DR Congo
After two years of setbacks, broken promises and delays, the Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday (21 November) effectively opened the starting gates for a crucial election that could alleviate -- or perhaps worsen -- the decades-long crisis gripping the vast central African nation.
Spain PM Sánchez calls for Venezuelan migrant quotas
Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said on Thursday (30 August) that Latin America should adopt a "quota system" to better manage the Venezuelan migrant crisis.
Calls for justice after Bosnian reporter brutally beaten
Bosnian journalists on Monday (27 August) demanded justice after a reporter said he was severely beaten by unknown attackers after covering politically-sensitive protests. The US and European Union also condemned the assault on Vladimir Kovacevic, a journalist who works for...
Emmerson Mnangagwa sworn in as president of Zimbabwe
Emmerson Mnangagwa was officially sworn in as president of Zimbabwe on Sunday (26 August) after winning a bitterly-contested election which was the country's first since the ousting of strongman Robert Mugabe.
Belgium introduces security check fee for EU journalists
Belgium has introduced an unprecedented fee of €50 per semester for the security check of journalists attending EU summits. Moreover, the fee discriminates against journalists permanently residing in Belgium since those from abroad don’t need to pay the fee.
EU and Ukraine in tug of war over Naftogaz unbundling
The European Commission has repeated its insistence on breaking up the Ukrainian national gas and oil monopoly Naftogaz, separating transmission from production and supply, which the country had agreed to as a condition for receiving massive Western financing.
US, EU warn against political meddling in Bosnia graft cases
The United States and the European Union yesterday (21 February) warned Bosnia it needed to better protect the judiciary in corruption cases from political pressure, which had resulted in few high-level graft cases being processed in the Balkan country.
EU concerned over rights abuses in Equatorial Guinea
The European Union has criticised "a sharp decline" in human rights in Equatorial Guinea where an opposition figure died in custody and over 130 people have been detained since elections last year.
Deadly ethnic violence erupts in DR Congo’s Ituri
More than 30 people have been killed and hundreds of homes torched in an explosion of ethnic violence in a DR Congo province where the EU launched a landmark peacekeeping mission, multiple sources told AFP yesterday (5 February).