About: Bulgaria
Europe’s new leaders are coming from the periphery
The construction of a new European architecture is underway, built around the point of relations with Russia - and new European leaders are shaping a new form, one we will live in and observe for decades to come, writes Orhan Dragaš.
Sofia’s veto on Skopje is ‘a present for Russia’, Borrell says
The EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell put pressure on Sofia on Monday (16 May) to lift its veto over North Macedonia starting EU accession negotiations, by saying that the lack of solution is “a present for Russia”.
Bulgarian officials ordered to provide ID for lesbian couple’s baby
A Bulgarian court on Monday (16 May) ordered city hall authorities in the capital Sofia to issue a birth certificate to the stateless baby of a same-sex couple from Bulgaria and Gibraltar.
Russia puts sanctions on Gazprom subsidiaries in Europe
Moscow has imposed sanctions on 31 companies, including the owner of the Polish part of the Yamal pipeline, as well as the former German unit of the Russian gas producer Gazprom, whose subsidiaries service Europe's gas consumption.
Nearly 25 million tonnes of grain stuck in Ukraine, says UN food agency
Nearly 25 million tonnes of grains are stuck in Ukraine and unable to leave the country due to infrastructure challenges and blocked Black Sea ports including Mariupol, a UN food agency official said on Friday (6 May).
Bulgarian professor achieves dream of creating world-class tech powerhouse
In April, Bulgaria became home to INSAIT, a new Institute for Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence and Technology that aims to develop a world-class research centre, keep talent in Bulgaria, and attract outstanding international scientists by offering globally competitive research facilities and compensation.
Bulgaria and Greece plan joint gas deliveries for southeast Europe
Bulgaria and Greece agreed to seek joint gas deliveries for southeastern Europe and decrease its reliance on Russian gas amid the war in Ukraine, Bulgarian Energy Minister Alexander Nikolov said on Thursday (5 May).
Greece replaces Bulgaria as the EU press freedom black sheep
After many years of having Bulgaria as the worst-ranked EU country in terms of press freedom, the World Press Freedom index for 2022 painted a different picture on Tuesday (3 May): Bulgaria has improved while the worsening media situation in Greece sent that country to the bottom.
EU energy ministers hold crisis talks after Russian gas cuts
Energy ministers from European Union countries hold emergency talks on Monday (2 May), as the bloc strives for a united response to Moscow's demand that European buyers pay for Russian gas in rubles or face their supply being cut off.
Bulgaria becomes regional hub for gas supplies
A regional coordination centre will be set up in Bulgaria to manage the overall use of gas and electricity infrastructure and additional gas purchases for the Balkans and Italy, announced Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Asen Vassilev in Brussels.
Bulgaria urges ‘stronger’ Europe to cut off Russian gas
Bulgaria's Prime Minister Kiril Petkov urged Europe on Thursday (28 April) to be "stronger" and find alternatives to Russian gas, during a visit to Ukraine.
Will Bulgaria manage to escape the gas trap?
After the Russian decision to halt gas supplies to Bulgaria, the country is under pressure. Nevertheless, past delays in developing gas power infrastructure might now turn to its advantage, writes Genady Kondarev.
Putin drives wedge between prime minister and president in Bulgaria
The Kremlin’s decision to cut off gas to Bulgaria has wholly exposed the positions of the leading political players in Sofia and caused a complete rupture in relations between Prime Minister Kiril Petkov and President Rumen Radev. Radev sharply attacked the government...
Bulgaria slams Russia for ‘gas blackmail’, will not halt Serbia deliveries
Russian energy giant Gazprom halted gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria on Wednesday (27 April) citing their failure to pay for gas in roubles, in the Kremlin's toughest response yet to the crippling sanctions imposed by the West for its invasion of Ukraine.
Russia cuts gas to Poland, threatens disconnecting Bulgaria
Russia halted gas supplies to Poland under the Yamal contract on Wednesday (26 April), in a deepening of the rift between the West and Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
Ukraine’s foreign minister to Bulgaria: ‘It’s time to make a choice’
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba appealed to NATO and EU member Bulgaria on Thursday (21 April) to provide sorely needed military aid to help his country survive Russia's invasion.
Ukraine receives fighter planes, aircraft parts to bolster air force
Ukraine has received fighter planes and aircraft parts to bolster its air force in the face of Russia's invasion, the Pentagon said Tuesday (19 April), declining to specify the number of aircraft or their origin.
Putin and the EU: he – snake, we – frog
Putin’s blunder in Ukraine was that he compressed steps that normally take one full year into a mere 24 hours, and it is not clear what prompted him to behave in such an unusual manner, writes Evgenii Dainov.
Will ‘Postpolitik’ replace ‘Ostpolitik’?
The policy of pragmatic coexistence with autocratic Russia is now recycled in the hands of Russia’s ‘Trojan horses’ in the EU and Vučić’s Serbia, writes Radan Kanev.
Bulgaria, Baltic countries kick out 20 Russian diplomats
Bulgaria has expelled 10 Russian diplomats while Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania have banished another 10 Russian diplomats between them, the foreign ministries of the respective countries said on Friday (18 March), citing their non-diplomatic activities and the spreading of Russian military propaganda.
Russia says will attack Slovakia’s S-300 missile supplies to Ukraine
Russia said on Friday (18 March) it will attack potential supply chains of S-300 air defence systems to Ukraine, following Slovakia’s statement that it is ready to send them to Ukraine if they are immediately replaced.
Slovakia ‘preliminarily’ agrees to send key air defense system to Ukraine
Slovakia has preliminarily agreed to provide Ukraine with a key Soviet-era air defense system to help defend against Russian airstrikes, according to three sources familiar with the matter, CNN reported on Wednesday (16 March).
US rejects Poland’s offer to give it Russian-made fighter jets for Ukraine
The United States rejected a surprise offer by NATO ally Poland to transfer its Russian-made MiG-29 fighter jets to a US base in Germany as a way to replenish Ukraine's air force in its defense against invading Russian forces.