Latest News from Bulgaria

Dwelling Prices in Bulgaria Registered Increase at End of 2014

The market prices of dwellings in Bulgaria increased in the last three months of 2014, according to a study of the National Statistical Institute (NSI), which was released on Friday.

The prices of dwellings increased with 0.7 % compared to the preceding three-month period in 2014, and registered 1.2 % growth compared to the same period in 2013.

Bulgarian Cabinet Makes Governance Programme Public

The Bulgarian Council of Ministers published its detailed governance programme on the government's website on Friday.

Although the programme was adopted on Wednesday, it was made public only after the first meeting of the Council for development, electronic daily Dnevnik reports.

Summer Floods Caused Damages Amounting to EUR 400 M

Bulgaria's Interior Minister Veselin Vuchkov announced during the parliamentary control on Friday that the summer floods caused damages amounting to EUR 400 M.

According to the estimates, the first wave of floods caused damages amounting to EUR 311 M, while the second wave resulted in damages amounting to EUR 79 M, Darik radio reports.

Bulgaria Foresees New Investments for Municipalities Hosting Refugees

Bulgarian municipalities with refugee accommodation centers and those involved in integration programmes will receive significant subsidies.

This was announced by the chief secretary of the State Agency for Refugees (DAB) Zlatko Aleksandrov on Thursday, daily Standart reports.

Aleksandrov explained that the funding will be mainly allocated to infrastructure projects.

Illegal Trade in Fuels Costs Bulgaria Over BGN 1 B

Bulgaria's Finance Ministry announced that each year around 1.2 million tonnes of diesel are not declared to the revenue agencies, which amounts to 36.2 % of the fuel consumption in the country.

The Ministry estimates that the losses to the budget from tax evasion and avoidance of excise duties amount to BGN 1.1 - 1.2 B, electronic daily Dnevnik reports.

World Bank's Murthi In Bulgaria To Discuss Economic Growth Prospects

The World Bank said on Friday Bulgaria could meet and even exceed economic growth forecasts this year.

The Bank will assist Bulgaria's efforts to bolster economic growth, the Country Director for Central Europe and the Baltic Countries Ms Mamta Murthi said after talks with Bulgaria's Prime Minister Boyko Borisov in Sofia, according to the government's press office.

Bulgaria Loses Most Revenues From Illicit Cigarettes Sales in EU

Bulgaria is the country that loses most revenues from illicit cigarettes in the European Union (EU) in relative terms, shows a study of Industry Watch, which was released on Thursday.

Illicit cigarettes cost 1.6 - 2 % of total tax revenues collected by the government and Bulgaria considerably exceeds all other EU member states in this indicator.

Bulgarian Village Protests against Landfill Project near Historic Monument

Protesters from the Southwest Bulgarian village of Banya came to the streets on Friday to express their disagreement with a government project to build a landfill close to a historic monument.

Public dissatisfaction is caused by the fact that the landfill will be located next to a 17th century church of historic importance near the village of Debar.

Bulgaria, Turkey to Develop Joint Tourism Product

Representatives of major Turkish tour operators and travel agents will visit Bulgaria for a working meeting with Bulgarian colleagues to discuss the development of joint tourist products for far-off markets like China.

EU Funds Act to Ensure Sustainability, Accountability - Bulgaria's Deputy PM

Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev has suggested that 2015 is expected to be the strongest year in terms of EU funds absorption since Bulgaria's EU accession.

In a Friday interview for the Bulgarian National Radio, Donchev vowed to put an end to administrative impunity in the sphere of EU-funded projects through an EU Funds Act.

Grigor Dimitrov Beats Baghdatis, Reaches Australian Open 1/8 Finals

Bulgaria's top tennis player Grigor Dimitrov has defeated Cyprus' Marcos Baghdatis, reaching the 1/8-finals of Australian Open.

Dimitrov took 3 hours and 30 minutes to win a five-set match 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 on day five of the Australian Open tournament.

10th seed Grigor Dimitrov will next plat Britain's Andy Murray or Portugal's Joao Sousa.

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