Latvia

Russia has launched a behind-the-curtains campaign of economic and political measures in order to manipulate five countries in Central and Eastern Europe, to discredit the Western liberal democratic model and undermine transatlantic relations, showed a survey of the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington and the Bulgarian Center for the Study of Democracy.

Greece is in the bottom 3 countries with the highest rate of fall in housing prices over the first half of 2016, according to Eurostat. The data shows that Cyprus has suffered the highest drop in property value. The average prices of houses in the Eurozone have gone up by 2.9%, and 4% in the EU for the second quarter of 2016, compared to last year over the same period.

An informal dialogue with Bulgaria's new candidate for the top UN post will take place at UN headquarters on Monday, Peter Thomson, president of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly, announced on September 29.

Turkey was "more than ready" to cooperate with Russia on a new Syrian cease-fire and the delivery of humanitarian assistance if Moscow was willing to do so, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on Sept. 29. 

A total of 1,614 Syrian refugees from Turkey have been resettled in the EU since the implementation of a migrant deal between Turkey and the bloc, while a total of 578 migrants were returned to Turkey, the European Commission said in a report on Sept. 28. 

Thessaloniki Biennale of Contemporary Art won the second prize in an international conference on Cultural Tourism held in Portugal. The 9th international conference for Cultural Tourism in Europe took place in Guimaraes, on the theme ‘Intangible Heritage: Incomparable Asset for Sustainable and Responsible Tourism Development’.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said on Wednesday Hungary "would be even glad to back" EU Commission Vice President Kristalina Georgieva for the post of UN Secretary General.

At a briefing with Bulgarian counterpart Boyko Borisov in southeastern Bulgaria, not far from the Turkish border, Orbán made clear it was "up to Bulgaria" whether or not to raise her candidacy.

A meeting of ten presidents of parliamentary republics across the EU is to start in Plovdiv, Bulgaria's second-largest city, on Wednesday.

The migrant crisis is again expected to top the agenda alongside the challenges Europe is facing after Britain's decision to leave the EU.

After UNESCO Director Irina Bokova came only fifth in the fourth ballot for a new UN Secretary-General, reports are rife that Bulgaria may replace her with the European Commission Vice-President, Kristalina Georgieva.

However, Bulgaria's deputy-premier and Minister of Interior, Rumyana Bachvarova, dismissed this on Monday.

Bulgaria's government is to hold a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, a day ahead of schedule, amid speculation whether it will choose to nominate EU Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva as its official candidate for UN chief.