European Parliament

Most Bulgarians express satisfaction and see benefits from Bulgaria's EU membership, as indicated by the latest Eurobarometer survey presented by the European Parliament. The survey highlights that 72 percent of EU citizens, including 57 percent of Bulgarians, perceive their country as benefiting from its participation in the Community.

Retired diplomat and former European Parliament MP Christos Zacharakis has died. He was 84.

"A positive decision on the enlargement of Schengen with Bulgaria and Romania should be expected by the end of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU, which ends by the end of the year." This was stated by the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola.

"The European Parliament is at the heart of my commitment to the European idea of my years as a MEP in 2009 and as a member of the European Court of Auditors.

The police found 280,000 euros in cash at the home of the son of MEP Maria Arena, reported the Belgian newspaper "Le Soir", quoted by BTA.

The uniformed officers searched five other locations, all of which were "directly or indirectly connected to Arena or her family," the prosecutor's office said in a statement.

A resolution by members of the European Parliament has called on member-states to implement a radical change in search and rescue policies in the Mediterranean with priority given to preventive action so that no human lives are lost.

Today, the European Parliament will vote on a resolution for the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen area. Against this background, the Romanian MEP from the European People's Party, Eugene Tomac, requested that the European Parliament file a case against the European Council before the Court of Justice of the EU for not allowing Romania and Bulgaria into Schengen.

The Financial Police conducted searches at the homes of MEP Eva Kaili in Psychiko and her sister Madalena in Kifissia, which ended Wednesday.

A Belgian prosecutor was also present during the checks, executing a European order for an investigation by Belgian judicial authorities into Kaili, one the of main suspects in a corruption probe at the European Parliament.

A European Union parliament committee has rejected a landmark legal proposal to protect endangered natural habitats, ahead of a decisive vote by the full EU assembly next month.

Migration Reform

European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson speaks to the media prior to the European Home Affairs Ministers Council meeting in Luxembourg, 08 June 2023. EPA-EFE/JULIEN WARNAND