Kiril Petkov

Atanas Atanassov, co-leader of Democratic Bulgaria (DB), emphasized the urgent need for National Assembly's attention on reforming special services, citing critical challenges they face.

As Bulgaria embraces the dawn of 2024, leaders from various political factions have taken to social media platforms to extend their wishes and hopes for the country in the coming year.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister, Mariya Gabriel, expressed gratitude to the collective efforts that propelled Bulgaria into the Schengen agreement for air and sea borders. Highlighting Bulgaria's pivotal role in safeguarding the European Union's external boundaries, Gabriel emphasized the country's robust border control system, reinforcing EU security.

Bulgaria's impending entry into the Schengen zone through air and sea borders from March 2024 has been met with widespread acclaim, signaling a remarkable stride in European integration. Amidst this pivotal development, leaders have offered diverse perspectives on the momentous decision, highlighting its profound significance for the nation's future within the European landscape.

Kiril Petkov, former Prime Minister, current co-chairman of "We Continue the Change" and head of the parliamentary EU, Schengen, and Eurozone committee, outlined Bulgaria's stance on Schengen entry, emphasizing conditions rather than a specific timeline.

In a rapid ten-minute session, lawmakers backing Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov swiftly endorsed a proposal outlining the schedule for constructing units 7 and 8 at the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) using American technology.

Hungary has formally confirmed its intention to veto Bulgaria's entry into the EU's travel zone if identity document control isn't implemented, announced the Hungarian Foreign Ministry in Budapest. This declaration marks the first official acknowledgment from Viktor Orban's government regarding this stance, following recent reports in the Financial Times.

Bulgaria's parliamentary session scheduled for Friday faced cancellation as the Parliament Chairman, Rosen Zhelyazkov, halted proceedings due to the absence of a quorum. With only 68 out of 240 MPs present in the plenary during the second attempt, the minimum requirement was not met.

In a groundbreaking move, Bulgaria prepares to approve an unprecedented budget allocation for culture following the upcoming vote on Budget 2024. Leaders from GERB, WCC-DB, and DPS, including Boyko Borissov, Kiril Petkov, and Delyan Peevski, disclosed plans for a staggering 520 million BGN to be channeled into cultural institutes.

Bulgaria's Prime Minister, Nikolai Denkov, lauded Austria's recent shift in stance as a positive step towards Schengen expansion. This move by Vienna signifies a willingness to grant Bulgaria and Romania entry into the border-free travel area, albeit limited to air travel for now.