All News on Social Issues in Bulgaria

Bulgaria to Grant Ukraine Humanitarian Aid of EUR 50 000

Bulgaria's government will grant Ukraine humanitarian aid of EUR 50 000.

The funding will be provided from the official development aid allocation under the central budget.

The aid aims to alleviate the difficult social and economic and humanitarian situation in the country

The funding will be provided via the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Parliament To Debate On Reintroduction of Progressive Personal Income Tax

Bulgaria's Parliament will discuss at first reading on Wednesday draft amendments to personal income tax law and the reintroduction of progressive tax.

The two different draft amendments - tabled by the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) and the left-wing nationalists Ataka - were overruled last week by the interim parliamentary budget and finances committee.

Bulgarian MPs Pass Overhaul of Healthcare Budget

Lawmakers have approved the allocation of additional BGN 100 M to the budget of Bulgaria's health fund for 2014.

Half of these funds are earmarked for the payment of hospital services, a task for which the National Health Insurance Fund (NZOK) is in charge of making transfers.

Number of Illegal Immigrants Entering Bulgaria Via Greece Increases

The number of illegal immigrants entering Bulgaria through the border with Greece, continues to rise, Interior Ministry sources tell Dnevnik.bg.

The information was confirmed by the Refugee Agency.

According to its data, the number of persons, apprehended at the border with Greece was 291 since the beginning of the year. For comparison, in 2013 the number was 31.

Parliament To Discuss Budget Update

Bulgaria's Parliament will discuss at an extraordinary meeting the budget update.

Last week the interim parliamentary committee on budget and finances approved the update of the budget of the national health insurance fund (NZOK) and the proposed update of the state budget.

NZOK will get additional BGN 100 M.

Interior Minister Points to Budget Shortfall, Migrant Pressure as Key Challenges

Migrant pressure and a shortage of finds are the main issues Bulgaria's Interior Ministry should tackle in the near term, Interior Minister Veselin Vuchkov said on Sunday.

The ministry's budget is expected to show a shortfall of some BGN 210M (EUR 105M) at the end of the year, Vuchkov told a news conference.

Kristalina Georgieva Calls For Urgent Reforms

Bulgaria's European Commissioner for Budget, Human Resources and Securit Kristalina Georgieva called for urgent and profound reforms in Bulgaria in an interview for the BNR public broadcaster.

According to her, the priorities were healthcare, pension system and administration.

Household Income Drops by 3.7% Y/Y in Q3, 2014

In the third quarter of 2014, the average total income per household member amounted to BGN 1195, down by 3.7% from Q3, 2013, according to Bulgaria's National Statistical Institute (NSI).

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Bulgaria's Border Police Arrests 41 Syrians At Crossing With Romania

Bulgaria's border police arrested 41 Syrians at the Danube Bridge border crossing with Romania for illegally trying to leave the country, reports Vesti.bg.

They were found early on Thursday morning hiding in a truck with Turkish plates. The Turkish driver was also arrested.

Interim Budget Committee Approves Budget Update

The interim parliamentary committee on budget and finance approved the draft amendments to Bulgaria's Budget Act, reports the Focus information agency.

The budget update was tabled by the Council of Ministers earlier this week. It provides for a deficit of 3.7% of Bulgaria's GDP for 2014 and the taking of another state loan of BGN 4.5 B.

Budget Committee Passes Update of Health Fund's Expenditure

The temporary Budget and Finance Committee at Bulgaria's Parliament has approved the allocation of BGN 100 M more to the National Health Insurance Fund (NZOK).

MPs passed the bill overwhelmingly, with 15 voting yes, none against and four abstained.

Budget Update Bill to Be Debated in Parliament Committee

A bill to overhaul the 2014 budget will be put forward for discussion in the provisional Budget and Finance Committee of BUlgaria's Parliament.

The draft legislation was submitted to the National Assembly after the government adopted its text on Tuesday.

It envisages an increased budget deficit of BGN 2.992 B (3.7 percent of GDP) and a cap of this year's debt worth BGN 4.5 B.

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