About: Bulgaria
Bulgarian government sides with Orban against Article 7
The Bulgarian government decided today (19 September) to take the side of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban against the possible Article 7 procedure requested by the European Parliament.
Manfred Weber: Bulgaria and Croatia should join Schengen ‘immediately’
Bulgaria and Croatia should join the EU's passport-free Schengen area immediately, EPP group leader Manfred Weber said on Wednesday (12 September), in a friendly gesture to two Eastern European governments from his political family.
Bulgaria police raids EU Presidency hotel in Sofia
Police uncovered on Friday (31 August) over 10 million leva (€5 million) in cash from hotels owned by a rich businessman in Sofia and in Bulgaria’s second largest city, Plovdiv. A prosecutor reportedly said he had never seen anything of the kind in his whole career.
Borissov sacks three ministers following embarrassing road accident
A bus crash apparently caused by inadequate asphalt has exposed fraud and corruption in Bulgaria's road construction and prompted Prime Minister Boyko Borissov to abruptly sack three ministers on Friday (31 August).
Cyprus insurer’s bankruptcy sends shockwaves through Bulgaria
The liquidation of Cyprus’ Olympic Insurance, largely unnoticed on the island, is sending shockwaves through Bulgaria as it has left almost 200,000 policyholders with no coverage, causing a serious political crisis.
Bulgaria issues request for proposals for new or used fighter jets
Bulgaria has sent a request for proposals (RFP) for 16 new or used fighter jets to replace its ageing Soviet-designed MiG-29s to seven countries, the defence ministry told Reuters today (25 July).
Roses instead of opium: Afghan farmers enjoy sweet smell of success
Standing in a field of roses in eastern Afghanistan, former poppy grower Mohammad Din Sapai quickly but carefully plucks the delicate petals that will be turned into rose water and oils for sale around the world.
Radio Free Europe resumes broadcasts for Bulgaria, Romania
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) has announced plans to re-launch news services in Bulgaria and Romania in a bid to strengthen the media landscape in both countries. In both cases, it marks a return for RFE/RL: the company previously served...
Bulgaria edges closer to joining euro
Bulgaria, the European Union's poorest country, moved a step closer to joining the euro yesterday (12 July).
Architect of Romania’s EU bid says decade of membership was mishandled
Since Romania joined the EU in 2007, successive governments have failed to make the best of bloc membership but there is strong pressure for change in the country, the man who supervised Bucharest’s accession negotiations told EURACTIV.com.
Bulgaria’s PM decries organisation of EU summit
Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov expressed his outrage on Friday (29 June) that the first day of the EU summit lasted until 5 am and that preparatory work was not taken into account.
Tsipras to bail out Merkel on refugees
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is ready to sign a deal with German Chancellor Angela Merkel to make it easier for Germany to send asylum seekers back to other European countries, the Financial Times reported yesterday (27 June).
Bulgarian gas hub plans raise eyebrows in Brussels
Bulgaria launched a tender today (27 June) for a new gas link with Turkey in a push to persuade Russia to extend the second part of the Turkish Stream pipeline to its border rather than Greece.
Slovak farmers drive tractors into capital to protest alleged EU subsidy fraud
Dozens of farmers from across Slovakia drove their tractors into the capital Bratislava on Tuesday (19 June) to protest against alleged irregularities in EU farm subsidy payments first made public by murdered journalist Jan Kuciak.
Bulgaria to launch joint application to euro waiting room and Banking union
Bulgaria will seek to join both the eurozone’s waiting room and the bloc’s banking union within a year, Finance Minister Vladislav Goranov said on Tuesday (12 June).
Three presidents inaugurate TANAP pipeline in Turkey
The presidents of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia will inaugurate today (12 June) the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP), a key section of Europe's long-delayed Southern Gas Corridor (SGC), according to announcements made in the three country's media.
EU rule of law generally good but clouds on the horizon
EU citizens generally think that judicial independence is going from strength-to-strength but in some countries, like newest member Croatia, the situation is still poor and even declining, according to the EU’s latest justice scoreboard.
As expected, Vestager lets Gazprom off the hook
The EU's antitrust regulators have ended their investigation into Gazprom without imposing any fines, the Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager announced on Thursday (24 May). The Russian gas giant welcomed the EU's decision and promised to reform.
Commission to pour cold water on Bulgaria’s Eurozone ambition
Euro-hopeful Bulgaria does not yet meet the criteria to adopt the single currency, the European Commission will say today (23 May) in an assessment of European Union countries that must one day switch to the euro.
China says 16+1 summits are good for EU
Annual summits between China and central and eastern European countries are beneficial to the European Union as a whole, the Chinese government told Bulgaria's foreign minister, brushing off concerns that Beijing is seeking to divide the continent.
Bulgarian truckers protest against ‘Macron law’
Hundreds of truck drivers blocked roads across Bulgaria on Thursday (17 May) as European Union leaders met in Sofia, protesting against proposed EU rules they say would cost them their jobs and put their firms out of business.
Bulgaria PM plans to restart second atomic power project
Six years after freezing the construction of a second nuclear power plant, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov announced on Saturday (12 May) he intends to restart the project. Chinese investors have already expressed interest.
Commission to announce peace deal with Gazprom by next week
EU regulators will settle their antitrust case with Gazprom by next week, people close to the matter said on Monday (14 May), after the Russian energy giant pledged to change its pricing structure and allow rivals a foothold in eastern Europe.