Latest News from Romania
Eurostat Data: Bulgaria and Romania Report EU's Lowest Job Vacancy Rates in Q4 2023
According to Eurostat's latest publication, in the fourth quarter of 2023, the euro area witnessed a job vacancy rate of 2.7%, marking a decline from 2.9% in the preceding quarter and 3.1% in the same period of 2022. Notably, Bulgaria and Romania recorded the lowest job vacancy rates during this period, standing at 0.7% in both countries, BTA reported.
Clarity on Schengen Land Membership for Bulgaria, Romania Expected Post-EU Elections
Anticipation mounts as Vice-President of the European Commission, Margaritis Schinas, hints at an imminent decision regarding Bulgaria and Romania's potential accession to the Schengen Area via land routes. Following the European Parliament elections, Schinas foresees a pivotal moment where the two countries may finally secure this vital membership expansion.
Bulgarian MEP Eva Maydell Opposes Mini-Schengen, Urges Focus on Full Membership Efforts
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.
Ukraine's F-16 Acquisition Later This Year Won't Change Much On The Battlefield
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's Arms Imports Skyrocket
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 and Romania's Schengen Admission: No Timetable Set
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.
Brnabic meets with Mitsotakis
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.
Mariya Gabriel Advocates for Schengen Entry to Bolster Bulgaria's Border Security
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.