About: Bulgaria
UN freedom of speech rapporteur must wear several hats, says Bulgarian candidate
Iveta Cherneva, a Bulgarian author who writes about security, politics, human rights, and sustainability, and a EURACTIV contributor, has been shortlisted for the position of the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of speech.
Enlargement Package postponed until autumn, negotiation framework to go ahead in June
Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Várhelyi confirmed to EU lawmakers on Tuesday (19 May) that the publication of the European Commission's enlargement package has been postponed until autumn due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
EPP proposes law to protect small farmers against oligarchs
The European People's Party group called on Wednesday (13 May) for an EU law to prevent oligarchs and land-grabbers drawing on EU subsidies at the expense of small and medium-sized farming businesses. The practice is widespread in countries in Eastern Europe and Italy.
France kicks out Bulgarian seasonal workers despite Commission ‘guidelines’
Two groups of seasonal workers arriving in France by plane from Bulgaria have been sent back home by the French airport authorities, despite the European Commission's calls to ensure the freedom of movement of such “critical” personnel.
Truck drivers deserve an honest discussion, away from protectionist stereotypes
In the context of the COVID-19 crisis, the truck transport industry that ensures the security of supplies and food on our tables deserves praise, and an honest and transparent discussion, away from protectionist stereotypes, writes Petar Vitanov.
Half-truths and double standards in Skopje’s language politics
The President of North Macedonia has no right to state that the country “doesn’t need the EU” if it has to fulfil Bulgaria's conditionalities regarding the country’s language, because it is doing the same to its own ethnic Albanian citizens, writes Ziadin Sela.
EU leaders urge Skopje to solve its historic dispute with Bulgaria
The draft declaration of Wednesday's (6 May) EU summit with the leaders of the Western Balkans, seen by EURACTIV, calls on North Macedonia to find a solution to bilateral disputes in the implementation of the Treaty on Good Neighborhood Relations with Bulgaria.
Why are authorities in Bulgaria hiding the results of serological tests?
The latest investigative report by EURACTIV Bulgaria’s Valia Achchieva shows that the authorities are hiding the results of serologic tests which suggest that a large proportion of the population has already become immune to COVID-19. The findings shed light on...
The European ‘New Marshall Plan’ – Challenges for Eastern Europe
Even if the money for an ambitious post-COVID-19 EU recovery plan was on the table, the political elites in Eastern Europe lack the competence and the imagination to create sustainable prosperity, writes Radan Kanev.
COVID-19: Grants are needed for business and employees
Recovery from the unprecedented economic crisis requires not only high-level stimulus for listed corporates and increased funding for government agencies but a focus on the often forgotten engine of the economy and our largest employer - Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), writes Tsvetelina Penkova.
Bulgaria ‘black sheep of the EU’: World Press Freedom Index
Bulgaria has the lowest standards of press freedom in Europe and is ranked 111th globally in terms of press freedom for a third consecutive year in the Reporters Without Borders annual edition of the World Press Freedom index, which called the country "the black sheep of the EU".
Bulgarian Deputy PM: Eastern Europe could replace China in sectors critical to the EU
The countries of Central and Eastern Europe do not have the huge human resources of China, but they do have plenty of advantages that must be used after the end of the pandemic, said Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev in an exclusive interview with EURACTIV Bulgaria.
Britain turns to Eastern Europe, and charter flights, to save its crops
To save fields of asparagus and strawberries threatened with rotting, Britain is mobilising a workforce of students, the unemployed -- and workers from Europe.
COVID-19 mobile app available to governments for a symbolic euro
The Bulgarian authorities have given their blessing to an initiative by local IT developers who created a mobile app aimed at creating a real-time link between citizens and health authorities. The developers told EURACTIV they are ready to make the application available for other countries for a symbolic one euro.
Bulgarian minister wants to put imported food ‘under quarantine’
Under the guise of looking after local food producers in the conditions of the coronavirus crisis, Bulgaria's ruling politicians are seeking to push through protectionist measures against imported goods.
Spain wants jobless, immigrants to cover farm shortfall
Spain moved on Tuesday (7 April) to tackle a shortfall of farm workers due to the coronavirus crisis by authorising the temporary hiring of tens of thousands of immigrants or jobless people.
Eastern European sex workers stranded in Germany as coronavirus shuts brothels
Thousands of foreign prostitutes working in Germany have been made homeless after brothels closed due to the coronavirus outbreak and borders snapped shut, making it difficult for them to return home.
Austria imports workers from Bulgaria, Romania to plug gaps in COVID-19 care
Chartered flights brought more than 200 health workers to Austria on Monday (30 March) to ensure that care was not disrupted by COVID-19 travel restrictions, a regional official said.
Happy as a ‘sandbox’: Bulgaria’s tech upsurge
The creation of a "sandbox" - a safe environment where FinTech companies can test their products - is big news for Bulgaria and the entire tech community in Central and Eastern Europe, write Eduard Tsvetanov and Filip Genov.
Golden visas and passports still widespread in Europe, study finds
Citizenship and residence-for-pay schemes continue to be widespread across the EU, according to a new report, which calls on the European Commission to propose EU-wide rules to phase out golden passports while taking action against governments that operate schemes in breach of EU law.
Bulgaria proposes to take over EU truck cargo, drive it to Turkey
Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov will propose to EU leaders during their teleconference on Thursday (26 March) that his country would transship goods of trucks from EU countries going to Turkey. The alternative is that EU drivers would wait 14 days before being allowed to enter Turkey.
Bulgarian authorities struggle to enforce containment with Roma population
In Bulgaria, home to a large Roma population, the authorities are struggling to enforce the strict containment measures generally respected by the majority of the population. On top of that, many Bulgarian Roma are said to have returned from Western Europe in recent days.
Bulgarian investigative journalist assaulted in Sofia
A well-known Bulgarian investigative journalist was assaulted by masked men late Tuesday outside his home on a central Sofia boulevard, sparking angry reactions from journalist organisations.