Romania

In an interview with BTA, Bulgarian MEP Eva Maydell, representing the European People's Party/GERB, emphasized Bulgaria's need to prioritize efforts towards achieving full Schengen membership. Maydell's remarks come amid ongoing discussions surrounding Bulgaria's path to integration and the potential implications of semi-European solutions such as the Mini-Schengen Area.

The New York Times reported that Ukraine is set to receive F-16 fighters by summer 2024, but they may be too few to make a significant impact in the ongoing conflict. While 12 Ukrainian pilots are expected to be ready to fly the F-16s by then, Western countries have pledged to transfer only six out of the approximately 45 promised planes to Kyiv.

Bulgaria has experienced a staggering increase in arms imports, rising by 920% between 2019 and 2023 compared to the period of 2014 to 2018. This significant surge in arms procurement was revealed in a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), highlighting a notable shift in Bulgaria's defense strategy.

Bulgaria has emerged as the most perilous country for driving in the European Union, with the highest death rate from road traffic accidents, according to preliminary data released by the European Commission for 2023.

Bulgaria's Road Safety Challenges:

Discussions regarding the full entry of Bulgaria and Romania into the Schengen area continue without a clear timetable. Following a meeting between Austrian Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer and Romanian President Klaus Iohannis in Bucharest on Thursday, the Austrian media reported on the ongoing deliberations.

BUCHAREST - Serbian PM Ana Brnabic met with Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Bucharest on Thursday, the second day of a European People's Party congress in the Romanian capital.

Brnabic and Mitsotakis reconfirmed the good relations and cooperation between their countries and discussed future cooperation in several areas.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis issued a clear message of support for Ukraine n Thursday, a day after a Russian missile missed Ukraine's president and the prime minister of Greece by hundreds of metres when it slammed into port infrastructure in the Black Sea city of Odesa.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, Mariya Gabriel, emphasized the urgency of Bulgaria and Romania joining the Schengen area, particularly by land, to enhance migration management capabilities. Speaking at the EPP congress in Bucharest, Gabriel underscored Bulgaria's pivotal role in safeguarding the EU's external borders.

Prime Minister of Serbia, Ana Brnabi, met with Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, on the second day of the Congress of the European People's Party (EPP) in Bucharest.
Brnabi and Mitsotakis once again confirmed the good relations between the two countries and mutual cooperation.
They discussed future cooperation in several areas.

At the European People's Party (EPP) congress in Bucharest, GERB leader Boyko Borissov delivered a compelling address, urging Austrian authorities to reconsider their decision to block Bulgaria and Romania's accession to the Schengen area along the land borders.