Latest News from Bulgaria
Bulgaria to Receive Disaster Aid of EUR 6.3 M
Bulgaria is to receive EUR 6.3 M in EU aid for coping with the damage caused by the floods in January and February 2015.
The aid is part of a EUR 16.3 M package for repairing damage to public and private infrastructure in Bulgaria and Greece caused by the severe weather conditions early in 2015.
Bulgaria is to receive EU aid of EUR 6.3 M, while Greece is to get EUR9.9 M.
Romania Offers Quick Citizenship to Foreign Stars
Justice Minister Robert Cazanciuc said Romania was introducing a simplified citizenship procedure for high-achieving foreigners "with special performances in sports, culture or other areas".
Under the current law, to get Romanian citizenship you must live in the country for at least eight years or be married to a Romanian citizen for at least five years.
Bulgaria's Consumer Prices Remain Flat in August
Bulgaria recorded zero inflation in August compared to the previous month, the National Statistical Institute (NSI) said on Monday.
Year-on-year, consumer price inflation also was zero, the statistical office said in a monthly inflation report.
The inflation rate since the beginning of the year (August 2015 compared to December 2014) was negative at minus 0.3%.
Bulgaria Drops Three Spots in Fraser Institute's Economic Freedom Ranking
Bulgaria has descended three spots in Fraser Institute's annual Economic Freedom of the World report, ranking 42nd among 157 countries and territories - at par with the Czech Republic, Sweden and Jamaica.
This year's edition of the report is based on 2013 statistics, the most recent year for which data is available. In last year's issue of the report Bulgaria ranked 39th.
Romania Opposes Mandatory EU Refugee Quotas
Romanian Interior Minister Gabriel Oprea said on Monday that Bucharest will reject the European Commission's plan for national quotas for refugees.
"I have a clear mandate from the president and from the prime minister to politely refuse the EC request," Oprea said before leaving for Brussels, where EU interior ministers will hold a meeting on the refugee crisis.
Bulgaria Warns Citizens Against Travel Through Hungary
Bulgaria has warned its citizens to avoid travel by train or road through the territory of Hungary due to concentration of refugees at the country's borders with Austria and Serbia.
The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry recommended to use alternative routes through Romania and Slovakia or via Serbia and Slovenia.