Bulgarian government

U.S. Ambassador Jim O'Brien, Head of the Office of Sanctions Coordination at the U.S.

American soldiers will be deployed in Bulgaria as part of NATO's plans for deterrence and the defense of the eastern flank. This was reported by the Twitter account of the US mission to NATO.

The announcement does not make it clear what part of the 2,400 soldiers from the US 101st Airborne Division will remain in Bulgaria. The rest will be located in Romania, Hungary and Slovakia.

"The resigned government has the support of GERB for the expulsion of the Russian diplomats and officials. There must be no retreat. It was amateurish, but it's been done."

Prime Minister Kirill Petkov blamed the mafia and Russia for the fall of his reformist government, foreign media reported after the first successful no-confidence vote in Bulgaria, which toppled the cabinet yesterday.

During the meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives to the EU /COREPER/, which took place yesterday, there was a discussion on the preparation of the upcoming summits on July 23-24, 2022.

There is no reciprocity in this latter demand, despite repeated judgments of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg calling on Bulgaria to recognise a Macedonian minority in Bulgaria, which successive Bulgarian governments have ignored.

On the Brink

Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov arrives for the European Council Summit in Brussels, Belgium, 24 March 2022.-EFE/JULIEN WARNAND

Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov and the European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi gave a press conference after their meeting in the Council of Ministers, at which the EU membership of North Macedonia was discussed.

Suspense

ormer President of Moldova Igor Dodon (C) is escorted by law officers during the court hearing process in Chisinau, Moldova, 26 May 2022. Former President of Moldova Igor Dodon is accused of passive corruption, illegal party financing, betrayal of the homeland and illicit enrichment. EPA-EFE/DUMITRU DORU

"If there is a decision to ban the import of oil from Russia, there will certainly be an exception for Bulgaria". This was stated by Prime Minister Kiril Petkov before the start of the extraordinary session of the European Council. Bulgaria will request a postponement until December 2024, incl.