Bulgaria

Bulgaria's energy watchdog DKEVR will present on Wednesday the results of the regulation audit of the three electricity distribution companies (EDCs). 

The audit started in the beginning of this year and reviews the activities of  EVN Bulgaria Electricity Distribution, CEZ Distribution Bulgaria and Energo-Pro Grids since 2008. 

Forty percent of Bulgarians are pro-EU, while 22% would like Bulgaria to join the Russia-led Eurasian Union, shows a survey of the Alpha Research agency. 

The question Alpha Research asked the respondents in the end of April was “If today was held a referendum for the joining of Bulgaria to the EU or the Eurasian Union, which would you choose?”

Bulgaria will get a EUR 1.5 B increase from the European Social Fund for the next program period till 2020, said EU Commissioner Lazslo Andor, during his visit in Sofia. 

This transpired during the meeting of the EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion and Bulgaria's deputy prime minister and Justice Minister Zinaida Zlatanova. 

Bulgaria's Black Sea island St. Anastasia, off the coast of Burgas, opens for tourists on May 15, report Bulgarian-language media. 

On the island, previously known as Bolshevik and used as a political prison in the communist era, is the only surviving island monastery from the Middle Ages in the western Black Sea. 

Bulgaria's Border Police caught 22 illegal immigrants at the Kapitan Andreevo border crossing with Turkey, said Interior Ministry. 

The 22 men, two women and one child were hidden in two containers on a freight train travelling from Turkey. 

None of them had documents, but three said they were from Myanmar and the rest – from Syria. 

Registry Agency fee reduction will cost individuals and businesses nearly BGN 7M less by the end of 2014, Bulgarian Deputy PM and Justice Minister Zinaida Zlatanova said Tuesday.

During a business conference, Zlatanova pointed out that these funds can be invested in the economy, rather than go to administrative fees, BGNES informs.

Bulgaria maintains significant levels of unemployment and gray economy, EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion Laszlo Andor believes.

He also announced that an additional EUR 50 M will be granted to Bulgaria to tackle youth unemployment under a special EU-wide program.

The Sofia City Court will hold a first hearing on Tuesday in the trial against former Bulgarian Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov.

The construction of the 60 km section of the Hemus highway near the cities of Lovech and Pleven will begin by end-2015, Regional Development Minister Desislava Terzieva announced.

PM Plamen Oresharski and the European Commissioner Laszlo Andor have discussed the future of the Bulgarian pension reform, as well as the structural unemployment, Monday.

The European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion Laszlo Andor has met with Prime Minister Oresharski earlier Monday during his two-day visit to Sofia.