Latest News from Bulgaria
Bulgaria's Budget Gap Shrinks to 2.9% at End-2015
Bulgaria closed last year with a consolidated budget deficit of BGN 2.47 B, equivalent to 2.9% of the projected Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the Finance Ministry announced on Friday.
This compared with a consolidated budget gap of BGN 3.08 B, equivalent to 3.7% of GDP at the end of 2014.
Bulgaria's Govt Debt at 26.4% of GDP at End-2015
Bulgaria's government debt totalled EUR 11.61 B at the end of 2015, increasing from EUR 11.30 B a the end of the previous year, Finance Ministry data showed on Friday.
Bulgaria's Reformist Bloc Nominates Meglena Kuneva as New Education Minister
Deputy Prime Minister Meglena Kuneva has been nominated as new Bulgaria's Education Minister to replace Todor Tanev.
The nomination was announced on Friday evening by the Reformist Bloc, the junior partner in the minority coalition government led by Prime Minister Boyko Borisov.
On Thursday, Borisov demanded the resignation of Tanev and his entire team.
Chinese Investors Plan to Spend EUR 270 M to Build Hotels, Marina, Airport, in Bulgaria
Chinese investors plan to put some EUR 270 M into the construction of luxury properties and a cargo airport in Bulgaria, Bloomberg has reported.
Junior Coalition Partners to Determine Bulgaria's New Education Minister
The parties constituting the junior coalition partner - the Reformist Bloc (RB) will determine on their own the candidate for new education minister of Bulgaria.
This became clear after a meeting between representatives of RB and Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov on Friday.
PM Borisov Calls for Immediately Closing EU's External Borders
Bulgarian Prime Minister called on Friday for an immediate closure of the external borders of the EU in view of the ongoing migrant crisis.
Borisov said this during a joint briefing with his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban who arrived on a visit to Bulgaria on Thursday evening.
Hungarian PM Urges EU to Offer Schengen Membership to Bulgaria
At a press conference during his visit to Sofia on Friday, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban called on the EU to offer to Bulgaria membership to the Schengen Area.
Orban assured that Bulgaria is capable of guarding its borders not only against smugglers, but also against migrants.
The Hungarian prime minister said that double standards were applied towards Bulgaria.
Borisov, Orban Exchange Gifts Ahead of Meeting
Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov and his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban, who arrived on a visit to Sofia on Thursday evening, exchanged gifts at the official dinner ahead of their meeting on Friday.
Borisov presented Orban with a phiale (libation bowl) of the Bulgarian khans - the medieval rulers of the country.
Bulgarian PM to Discuss Nominees for New Education Minister with Coalition Partners
Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov will discuss the candidates for a new education minister with the junior coalition partners from the Reformist Bloc (RB) on Friday.
This development comes after Borisov demanded the resignation of incumbent Education Minister Todor Tanev on Thursday.
Bulgaria's Business Climate Improves Slightly in January
Bulgaria's business climate indicator has increased in January by 0.6 percentage points compared to the previous month due to more optimistic expectations among entrepreneurs in construction and services.
Bulgaria's Kozloduy NPP Signs Deal to Extend Life of Unit 6 up to 60 Years
Bulgaria's sole Kozloduy nuclear power plant has signed a deal for extending the lifespan of one of its two operating 1,000-MW units with a consortium of Russia's Rusatom Service and Bulgaria's Risk Engineering.
"We Want to Enter Schengen," Bulgarian President Tells Corriere della Sera
Bulgaria wants to enter the Schengen Area which is one of the best achievements of the European Union, the country's President Rosen Plevneliev has said in an interview with Italian daily Corriere della Sera.
Plevneliev was on a working visit to Italy on 27-28 January
Protest Rally Briefly Blocks Traffic in Central Sofia
A protest rally briefly blocked motor traffic in central Sofia on Thursday afternoon.
The protesters demanded the resignation of Bulgaria's government and chief prosecutor, dissolution of parliament and overhaul of the political and judicial system in the country.
Bulgaria, Italy Presidents Discuss EU Migrant Crisis, Energy, Trade in Rome
The presidents of Bulgaria and Italy have discussed trade and investment links between their countries, diversification of energy supplies to Europe and the migration crisis during a meeting in Rome.
Bulgaria PM Borisov Asks Education Minister to Resign
Bulgaria's Prime Minister Boyko Borisov has demanded the resignation of Education and Science Minister Todor Tanev and his entire team.
"I believe that another person must hold the portfolio due to recurring problems at the ministry and the sector," Borisov said in a statement released by the government's press office on Thursday.