About: Bulgaria
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.
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.
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".
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.
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.
Papal Easter events to be held without faithful attending, Vatican says
All of Pope Francis’ Easter services next month will be held without the faithful attending due to the coronavirus outbreak, Vatican said on Sunday, in a step believed to be unprecedented in modern times. The services, four days of major...
Power and journalism in Bulgaria: Deflecting embarrassing issues
The Supreme Judicial Council of Bulgaria has blamed an investigative journalist for being “aggressive” in asking questions, disregarding her discovery that the head of the country’s largest court may be holding this post in breach of the law.
EU-wide rule of law mechanism discussed in Sofia
A conference in Sofia debated the European Commission's proposal for an EU-wide rule of law mechanism on Friday (6 March) and one European lawmaker said there is already a clear majority in the European Parliament to set up a new control mechanism for the rule of law.
EU pledges €700 million to Greece, Bulgaria’s Borissov obtains ‘compliments’
European Union officials on Tuesday (3 March) promised more cash for Greece during a visit to its border with Turkey which tens of thousands of migrants and refugees have been trying for days to breach. The officials urged Turkey to...
Fact check: Is this a refugee crisis?
For many, the dramatic events at the Greek-Turkish border resemble the 2015 refugee crisis, when more than a million refugees, mostly from Syria, crossed into Europe across the Mediterranean or overland. But is this really so? EURACTIV takes a closer...
Borissov meets Erdogan, gets assurance Bulgaria’s border will stay calm
Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov failed on Monday (2 March) in his mediation mission in Ankara which aimed to bring Greece, Turkey and EU leaders to a summit in Sofia to prevent a new refugee crisis in Europe
EU calls extraordinary foreign ministers’ meeting on Syria conflict
EU foreign ministers are to hold an emergency meeting next week to discuss the worsening Syria conflict that is driving refugees to the bloc's borders with Turkey, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Sunday (1 March).
Migrants clash with Greek police, diplomatic efforts underway
Greek police fired tear gas to repel hundreds of stone-throwing migrants who tried to force their way across the border from Turkey on Sunday (1 March), with thousands more behind them after Ankara relaxed curbs on their movement.